Unusually, residents across the city felt a definite chill throughout the day.
On Sunday, the maximum temperature at Nungambakkam was 24 degrees Celsius, which is a departure of – 5.5 degree Celsius from the normal temperature of 29.5 degree Celsius this time of the year. Similarly, Meenambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 25.1 degrees Celsius, which is a departure of –4.6 degree Celsius.
In the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, Nungambakkam recorded a minimum of 20.7 degree Celsius and Meenambakkam 21.3 degree Celsius. At 5.30 p.m., Nungambakkam recorded 22.6 degrees Celsius and at 8.40 p.m. 22.9 degree Celsius.
Senior meteorologist Y.E.A. Raj said that since there was little sunshine on Sunday, there was reduced incoming radiation. This, coupled with cold surface-level winds from the north could have led to the drop in temperature.
Chennai being a coastal city does not have high deviations in minimum temperature, unlike in interior stations like Vellore or Salem or Tirupattur since the sea surface temperature of the Bay of Bengal off Chennai remains at 27 degrees Celsius – 28 degree Celsius, he added.
In the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, Madurai City recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 17.8 degrees Celsius in the plains and Kodaikanal recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 10.9 degree Celsius in the hill areas of the State.
Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) here on Sunday forecast light to moderate rain for Monday at a few places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal; and heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Karaikal area.
In the 24 hours ending 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, Madurai Airport recorded the highest maximum temperature of 32.4 degree Celsius. The low-pressure area over south coastal Tamil Nadu and the adjoining Gulf of Mannar has become less marked at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday and the associated cyclonic circulation lay over the same region at 0.9 km above mean sea level.
With the Northeast Monsoon being active in south Tamil Nadu, rainfall occurred at many places over the southern parts of the State, at a few places over north Tamil Nadu and Karaikal area; light rain occurred over Puducherry.
From 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. on Sunday several places in the State recorded rains. Coonoor in The Nilgiris registered 39 mm, Ooty 20 mm, Kodaikanal 11 mm, Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam 4.5 mm, Tenkasi 2.5 mm, Tiruppur 2 mm, Thiruvarur 1.5 mm, Kadavur 1 mm, Ranipet 1mm, Vellore 0.5 mm, Bodinayakanur 6.5 mm, Karur 1.5 mm, Andipatti 1.5 mm, Grand Anaicut in Thanjavur 0.5 mm.
In Chennai, several places including Vadapalani, Chintadripet, and Anna Nagar had light drizzling. Nungambakkam recorded 0.8 mm, Meenambakkam had trace amounts whereas Ennore port received 0.5mm of rainfall.
Published – January 12, 2026 05:30 am IST
