Tamil Nadu Weather: Chennai to Get Moderate Rain; Erode Sizzles At 40.0°C

The state capital is set for a welcome break from the heat as the weather agency predicts moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning on Wednesday. Residents can expect a drop in temperature with the forecast calling for light to moderate rain with thunderstorm activity.

Daytime temperatures in Chennai are expected to hover between 35-36 °C, while nights will be relatively cooler at 26-27 °C. The city's weather stations have already recorded light activity, with Saidapet receiving 1 cm of rainfall and MGR Nagar recording 6 cm in recent observations.

The Heat Across Tamil Nadu: Erode Tops the Charts

While Chennai anticipates rain, other parts of Tamil Nadu continue to battle high temperatures. According to the latest data, Erode recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at a scorching 40.0 °C. It was closely followed by Karur Paramathi at 39.5 °C and Tirupattur & Vellore at 38.4 °C each.

Here is a look at the top temperatures recorded across the region:

In contrast, the hill stations provided cool relief, with Kodaikanal at 21.7 °C and Udagamandalam (Ooty) recording a chilly 21.8 °C.

Temperature Trends and Extremes

The weather agency's daily bulletin, recorded at 8:30 AM IST, notes a significant shift in temperatures over the past 24 hours:

Tendency: An appreciable fall of 2-4°C was observed in maximum temperatures at a few places over Tamil Nadu and the Karaikal area. No major change was recorded for the rest of the state or Puducherry.

Departure from Normal: Maximum temperatures were above normal by 2-3°C at isolated places, but below normal by 2-3°C at other isolated areas across the state.

Night-time Lows: In the plains, Coimbatore Airport recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 23.6 °C. However, the hill areas were much colder, with Udagamandalam recording the state's lowest minimum temperature of just 11.4 °C.

Rainfall Summary

Rainfall activity has been scattered:

Rainfall occurred at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, with a few places in South Tamil Nadu receiving showers.

Very light rain occurred over the Karaikal area, while dry weather prevailed over Puducherry.

Highest Rainfall: Saidapet (Chennai) received 1 cm, and MGR Nagar (Chennai) received 6 cm.

Outlook: Residents of Chennai are advised to prepare for wet roads and possible thunderstorm activity on Wednesday. Meanwhile, interior districts like Erode and Karur will continue to experience intense heat.