Day temperature set to increase by 2-3 degree Celsius in some pockets of T.N. till weekend

Chennai's winter temperatures rising above normal, with mist and haze forecasted to continue, especially in coastal areas.

As Chennai’s equivalent of winter enters its final phase, day temperatures are set to rise by two to three degrees Celsius above normal in some parts of the State till the weekend. Some places may experience cool mornings as the Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast mist, haze cover to continue over isolated pockets.

In Chennai, winters are becoming warmer, especially in February, going by the data over the past six years. The RMC has noted that dry weather would prevail over the State till February 24. Officials of the Meteorological Department said the maximum temperature would steadily go up during the transition phase to summer.

S.Balachandran, Additional Director General of Meteorology, Chennai, said it was a seasonal phenomenon for mist, haze cover to continue in some pockets even during mid-February. With clear skies and low humidity, diurnal variation (difference between day and night temperature) was experienced particularly in inland areas like Karur.

On Tuesday, Karur Paramathi recorded a maximum temperature of 35.5 degree Celsius, the warmest in the State for the day.

Weather experts noted that coastal places like Chennai had been experiencing warmer winters over the past few years as the night temperature stayed close to normal or above 20 degree Celsius.

Chennai has experienced above average night temperature for six consecutive years in Nungambakkam. Last year, the minimum temperature dipped to 22.6 degree Celsius on February 8 and 12. In the past one decade, the night temperature dipped to 19 degree Celsius only on February 2, 2018.

Y.E.A. Raj, former deputy director general of meteorology, Chennai, said the absence of the northerly wind component and impact of urban heat island in core parts of the city were some of the reasons that contributed to close to normal minimum temperature over the past six years. The city experienced sub-20 degree Celsius night temperature for four consecutive years between 2011 and 2014. The minimum temperature had dropped to 17.7 degree Celsius on February 13, 2011.