Tamil Nadu Weather: Temperatures Soar Above Normal; Vellore Hottest at 40.7°C

Tamil Nadu witnessed intense summer conditions on Thursday as citizens stepped out in large numbers to cast their votes, resulting in a remarkable voter turnout of 85 per cent. The polling day was marked by sweltering temperatures across the state, particularly in interior districts where the mercury soared well above normal levels.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Vellore emerged as the hottest location in the state, recording a maximum temperature of 40.7°C. Other interior regions also experienced severe heat, with Karur Paramathi and Madurai Airport touching 40.0°C each. Cities such as Erode (39.4°C), Salem (39.3°C), and Madurai city (39.2°C) were not far behind, reflecting the widespread intensity of the heatwave-like conditions.

Temperatures crossed 38°C in several places. Palayamkottai recorded 39.0°C, Dharmapuri 38.7°C, while Coimbatore Airport and Tiruchirappalli Airport both registered 38.5°C. Districts including Namakkal (38.3°C), Tiruthani (38.1°C), and Thirupattur (38.0°C) also experienced above-normal temperatures.

Coastal regions recorded relatively lower temperatures. Chennai Airport recorded 37.5°C, while Chennai city itself was at 35.0°C. Nagapattinam and Cuddalore reported 35.6°C each, and Adiramapattinam recorded 35.5°C. Cooler conditions prevailed in hill stations, with Udagamandalam at 27.2°C, Coonoor at 27.0°C, and Kodaikanal remaining the coolest at 21.8°C.

Rainfall activity remained limited, with only isolated showers reported over southern districts such as Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, and Tirunelveli. The highest rainfall was recorded at Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district with 17.6 mm. The rest of Tamil Nadu, along with Puducherry and Karaikal, experienced predominantly dry weather.

The RMC noted that maximum temperatures were above normal by 2-3°C in several interior districts, while coastal areas remained closer to seasonal averages. On the minimum temperature front, Ariyalur recorded the lowest in the plains at 23.5°C, while Kodaikanal registered a cooler 12.6°C in the hill regions.

Forecast for the coming days (April 24-27) suggests no significant relief from the heat. Light to moderate rainfall is likely at isolated locations over the Western Ghats districts and south coastal districts. However, most parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are expected to continue experiencing dry weather.

Temperatures are expected to remain above normal by 2-3°C in interior regions, while coastal districts may see near-normal conditions. The prevailing weather pattern indicates that residents will have to brace for continued summer heat in the days ahead.