Tamil Nadu Weather Update: 9 Districts Over 40°C, Salem Boils At 42.3°C; Heatwave Warning Issued

The Regional Meteorological Department on Wednesday said that nine districts across Tamil Nadu experienced scorching temperatures of 40°C on Tuesday, with Salem recording the highest temperature at 42.3°C.

During the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 today, maximum temperatures over the state were notably above normal by 2-4°C across many areas in the plains of interior Tamil Nadu. Some pockets in the north interior, including Erode, Dharmapuri, and Karur districts, saw temperatures soaring 4-5°C above normal, with heatwave conditions prevailing over Erode district.

Nine districts in interior Tamil Nadu recorded maximum temperatures ranging from 40°C to 42°C. Erode reported 42.0°C (+4.5°C) followed by Tirupattur at 41.6°C (+3.9°C), Karur Paramathi at 41.5°C (+4.0°C), and Vellore at 41.5°C (+2.6°C). Dharmapuri and Madurai city recorded 41.0°C (+3.8°C), while Namakkal reported 40.5°C, and Thiruchirapalli registered 40.1°C (+2.0°C). The plains of the remaining interior Tamil Nadu recorded temperatures of 38-39°C.

Coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal experienced temperatures ranging from 34°C to 38°C, while hilly areas saw temperatures between 21°C and 28°C, generally above normal maximum temperatures. Chennai recorded normal maximum temperatures with Meenambakkam (MBK) at 38.3°C (+2.0) and Nungambakkam (NBK) at 36.1°C (+1.0°C).

Rain Update

The statement claims that rainfall occurred at one or two places over South Tamil Nadu while dry weather prevailed over North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal regions.

"Light rain is likely to occur at one or two places over South Tamil Nadu and western Ghats districts of North Tamil Nadu," it said.

Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Thenkasi, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari come under South Tamil Nadu category. Whereas Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Theni, Dindigul, Thenkasi and Virudhunagar districts are considered western ghats districts.

Heatwave Warning

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has issued a heat wave warning to Tamil Nadu along with isolated places over Odisha, Sub Himalayan West Bengal and Karnataka.

The RMD has also said, "Due to high temperatures and humid conditions, hot and discomfort weather is likely at isolated pockets over Tamilnadu during the next five days."

As far as the Chennai weather is concerned, it is expected to be partly cloudy, with maximum temperatures reaching 37-38°C and minimum temperatures around 26-27°C.