Hotter June in city than in the past two years

July is usually a month of pleasant weather, with normal day temperature not exceeding 35. 2 degrees Celsius. However, on Monday, the Nungambakkam observatory recorded 38 degrees C, nearly three degrees above normal. Although weather experts attribute it to the delayed progression of the southwest monsoon, the last two months in the city have been perceived as unusually hot.

Many Chennaiites felt they had experienced a delayed Khatri' (the hottest period of the year, in May) in June, with the days seemingly hotter than the normal average of 36.9 degrees C for the month. And statistics proved them right - day temperature exceeded 40 degrees C on not less than ten days in June this year.

"The average day temperature in June is around 37 degrees C, but it was hotter this year compared to the past three years, " said Y E A Raj, deputy director general, meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai. "We expected a cooler July, but due to the weak monsoon we are receiving north-westerly winds, resulting in warmer temperatures. Coupled with the lack of clouds, the day temperatures have really shot up," added Raj. Although rains are not forecast for Tamil Nadu during the southwest monsoon, many districts in the state receive rain from June till September, which brings down day temperatures, according to him.

Data made available by the Met department reveals that between 2001 and 2008, mercury touched 40 degrees C and beyond on 10 days in 2003 and 11 days in 2005. However, temperature remained well below the 40-degrees mark in 2002, 2004 and 2006. In 2005, 40 degrees C was recorded only on five days while in 2007, only one day was as hot and in 2008 there were two days when temperature touched 40 degrees C.

"This June, the sea breeze set in after 2pm on most days, and did not set in at all for a few days due to the westerlies.When sea breeze is delayed, the heat experienced is more acute," said Raj. "Traditionally, the temperature reduces progressively over the month of the July, and if the southwest monsoon continues to hold, we can look forward to pleasant days," he added.

The normal weather for July is 35. 2 degrees C, but in the week gone by the lowest recorded was 34.5 on July 5.

Days in June 2009 when maximum temperature crossed 40 degree Celsius in Nungambakkam

June 2 : 40. 6

June 3: 40.3

June 4: 40.8

June 5: 40.1

June9 : 40.1

June 10: 40.2

June15: 40.1

June 23: 40.3

June 24: 40.1

June25 : 40.6



The month showed a 2. 3 degree departure from normal. The normal temperature is 36. 9 degree Celsius, based data from 1969 to 2008.

Day temperatures in July in Nungambakkam

July 6 : 38

July 5 : 34. 5

July 4: 36. 4

July 3 : 36. 6

July 2 : 37. 1

July 1 : 38. 8

The normal temperature during July is 35. 2 degree Celsius.

Days in the last nine years when day temperature exceeded 40 degree C in June in Nungambakkam:

2008 : 2

2007: 1

2006: 0

2005:11

2004 :0

2003: 10

2002: 0

2001 :5