Evening thunderstorms returned in coastal places such as Chennai on Friday, bringing some much-need relief from the heat.
| Photo Credit: M. SRINATH
After enduring gruelling heatwave conditions, considered unusual for July, parts of Tamil Nadu, particularly north coastal districts and the Western Ghats region, are likely to experience rainfall for the next few days.While heatwave conditions are expected to ease, temperatures may remain relatively above normal in pockets of interior Tamil Nadu till July 21. Evening thunderstorms returned in coastal places such as Chennai on Friday, much to the relief of residents who were reeling under the grip of the sweltering heat for the past few days.The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) discontinued issuing heatwave warnings as extreme weather conditions are not expected. However, it forecast that maximum temperature is likely to hover 2° C to 3° C above normal in interior Tamil Nadu, which sizzled with soaring mercury levels. Temperatures may remain near normal in coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal area till July 21.On Friday, Madurai experienced the hottest day temperature of 40° C in the State. Though temperatures soared above average in many places, they did not peak above 40° C-mark. Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam in Chennai recorded 38.3° C.Noting that there are multiple factors for the break in the prolonged dry spell, RMC officials said the change in weather to a trough running from southwest Bay of Bengal to the north Lakshadweep area across north Tamil Nadu and neighbouring States was one of the reasons. The strengthening of the southwest monsoon wind pattern in neighbouring States such as Kerala and Karnataka also influenced increased cloud cover.V.R. Durai, Head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, RMC, said a weather system in northwest Bay of Bengal, which moved inland across north Odisha and West Bengal, also had an indirect impact through weak monsoon revival. While the State may not experience widespread rainfall, increased clouding, and mild rainfall would keep temperatures under check and reduce extreme weather conditions, including in interior places. In coastal places such as Chennai, cool, easterly winds set in by around 2.30 p.m. and aided convective activity, he said.The RMC has predicted that while moderate rainfall may occur at isolated places in Western Ghats districts and the north coastal region on Saturday, light rainfall may occur at one or two places in the remaining parts of the State. Chennai may experience light to moderate rainfall on Saturday evening or night, and the day temperatures may be around 37° C-38° C.A similar rainfall pattern may persist in Tamil Nadu till July 23, with chances of isolated moderate rainfall in Western Ghats districts. Published - July 17, 2026 07:19 pm IST
