Chennai on Wednesday recorded the highest ever temperature this season, with Meenambakkam sizzling at 42 degrees Celsius and Nungambakkam recording 40.7 degrees Celsius.
Meenambakkam, Chennai Airport, was the hottest spot in the State, beating Vellore, which came second with 41.6 degrees Celsius and Tiruttani at 41.5 degrees Celsius.
According to data provided by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) here, Nungambakkam saw a deviation of 2.5 degrees Celsius from a normal of 38.2 degrees Celsius and Meenambakkam an increase of 2.9 degrees Celsius from the normal 39.1 degrees Celsius. The normal temperature is an average arrived at from 30-year data.
Chances of rain
According to V.R. Durai, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, temperatures are likely to remain high for at least a week over north coastal Tamil Nadu. “There is some clouding and rainfall over some places in the rest of the State,” he said.
On Thursday, heavy rain is likely at isolated places, with thundershowers and lightning at one or two places in the Ghat areas of Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Theni, Erode, and Dindigul districts.
Light to moderate rain at isolated places, with thundershowers and lightning at one or two places, is likely for the rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal area.
On Friday, there is a likelihood of heavy rain at isolated places with thundershowers and lightning at one or two places over Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Tiruchi, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Tirupattur, Erode and the Nilgiris districts.
Published – May 21, 2026 12:37 am IST
