After a soaking May, IMD predicts slowdown in rain activity for a week

The early onset of monsoon has brought in torrential downpour in the Western Ghats region.
| Photo Credit: AKHILA EASWARAN

After recording a 97% surplus in summer rainfall, Tamil Nadu is now expected to see a slowdown in rain activity for a week, particularly in the Western Ghats region.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, has forecast that there will be a drop in rainfall activity across the State till June 6. It will be restricted to isolated places after an eventful May, marked by exceptional rainfall and a dip in daytime temperatures.

With no significant weather system over the Bay of Bengal, Chennai too may begin to experience a mild increase in maximum temperature from Sunday, officials said. In its long-range forecast for Southwest monsoon, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that most parts of the State will continue to experience normal or above normal rainfall in June. However, north interior Tamil Nadu is likely to receive only below average rainfall in June.

Noting that the IMD has provided subdivision-wise monsoon forecast maps for the first time, B. Amudha, Head (Additional in-charge), RMC, Chennai, said there was a probability for surplus rainfall in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during the monsoon. The weather models have predicted that the region may receive 36 cm, against its seasonal average of 33 cm, she said. The early onset of monsoon has brought in torrential downpour in the Western Ghats region., with places such as Avalanche (the Nilgiris district) and Chinnakallar (Coimbatore district) receiving 141 cm and 101 cm of rainfall spread over eight days since May 23, she added. Summer was relatively mild in many parts of the State this year, with only eight of 30 weather stations seeing temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

Erode recorded the season’s highest day temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius on May 15. Vellore recorded 16 hot days this summer, Ms. Amudha said.

Meteorologists said Chennai experienced one of its mildest summers this year, with a cooler May and excess summer rainfall. P. Senthamarai Kannan, Director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, RMC, Chennai, said the city did not record temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius this summer. In the past 45 years, this is the eighth year that Chennai has had a mild summer with no hot days. Some of the previous years when the city experienced subdued heat include 2022, 2018, 1995 and 1987.

Chennai did not witness a spike in temperatures due to back-to-back rainfall episodes during peak summer days and early onset of the Southwest Monsoon. This year, maximum temperatures stayed below normal during 39% of the days in May, said Mr. Kannan.