Just as in May, the month of June was warmer in the city this year. While Meenambakkam recorded two degrees Celsius more than the normal mean temperature, Nungambakkam registered 0.5 C higher mean temperature this June.
“This year we have had a relatively hotter June as the rainfall arrived very late. The sky was clear most days,” said Dr Y.E.A. Raj, deputy director general of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC).
While Nungambakkam recorded an average mean temperature of 37.5 C as against the normal temperature of 37 C, Meenambakkam registered 39.4 C (normal temperature being 37.3 C).
“The hot weather in June was mainly due to lack of cloud formation and late onset of sea breeze. Nungambakkam experienced 24 days of sea breeze onset, while Meenambakkam only had 11 days,” he added.
Dr Raj also said that Nungambakkam recorded nine hot days (over 40 C), while Meenambakkam registered 13 hot days. The highest temperature was recorded on June 2, when mercury levels rose to 42.4 C at Nungambakkam and 43.2 C at Meenambakkam, he added.
On the other hand, the realised rainfall was 50 per cent below normal this June. “Normal rainfall for Tamil Nadu in June is 46 mm. But this time, we only got 21.8 mm,” Dr Raj said. “The substantial rainfall during the southwest monsoon season would be realised only in August and September,” he added.
“Chennai usually receives 4.3 days of rainfall in June. This time, it received only 2 to 3 days of rain,” he said, adding that in July, the city is slated to experience seven rainy days.