Chennai to hit 41 degree celsius heatwave

Chennai is set to continue to sizzling as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heatwave conditions in north Tamil Nadu till Tuesday.

According to a weather bulletin issued by the Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai on Sunday night, severe heat wave conditions will prevail over isolated pockets of Tiruvallur, Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts in north Tamil Nadu. “Heatwave condition likely to prevail at some parts over North Tamil Nadu (Chennai, Kanchipuram, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Puducherry, Nagapattinam, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Karur and Trichy districts),” the bulletin reads.

The maximum daytime temperature in Chennai is likely to hover around 41 degree Celsius for the next two days, the bulletin said. It also warned members of the public to not expose themselves to direct sunlight between 11 am and 4 pm to avoid sunstroke.

The IMD considers declaring heat wave in a region if the maximum temperature crosses 40 degree Celsius in plains and 30 degree Celsius in hill stations. The heat wave forecast in Chennai is expected to worsen the already existing water crisis.

The public has been advised not to expose themselves to direct sunlight between 11 am and 4 pm to avoid sunstroke, it said.

Officials also said till Monday, light to moderate rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Erode, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Salem, Theni, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Sivaganga and Pudukottai districts.

What the IMD says…

• Severe heat wave condition to prevail in isolated pockets in three districts of TN for another two days
• The temperature can go up to 41 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday
• Parts of Tiruvallur, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Chennai, Kancheepuram and Cuddalore districts are likely to be affected