Heatwave: Orange alert in north TN on May 1; Ooty records highest temp since 1951

CHENNAI: Tough days are ahead for the public who are already struggling with scorching temperatures prevailing in the State. The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai on Sunday extended an orange alert indicating a heat wave in the north interior districts of Tamil Nadu on May 1. The department has issued a yellow warning for the rest of the State for the next three days.

The maximum temperature is likely to surge by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius than the usual temperature across the State and witness intense heat from early May. Due to a trough/wind discontinuity from Marathwada to north Tamil Nadu, the weather conditions are harsh.

The sea gets warmer and leads to a surge in the maximum temperature especially over the north interior districts of Tamil Nadu. The mercury will record around 39 to 43 degrees Celsius (102.2 and 109.4 degrees Fahrenheit respectively).

Though Ooty weather station recorded the lowest maximum temperature at 29 degrees Celsius, it has been considered the hottest day since 1951. The temperature registered 5.4 degrees Celsius higher than usual, as per RMC.

For the next two days, a yellow warning has been issued to north interior districts of Tamil Nadu predicting heat wave conditions. On May 1, the warning was extended to an orange alert where severe heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over a few places in north interior districts including Vellore, Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram.

Tamil Nadu weatherman Pradeep John commented that the heat wave in the state is expected to get its peak from May 1 to 4 in north interior Tamil Nadu, particularly Vellore, Ranipet, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Erode, Salem, Namakkal, Trichy, and Karur.

As many as 14 weather stations in Tamil Nadu recorded over 100 degrees Fahrenheit including Chennai Meenambakkam station with 38.6°C (101 degrees Fahrenheit) on Sunday. Of which, the highest temperature was recorded in Erode district at 42°C. Followed by Tirupathur at 41.4°C, Dharmapuri at 41.2°C, Vellore at 41.1°C and Tiruthanni recorded 40.6°C.

The temperature is likely to further increase in the coming days. It is noted that several coastal and interior districts of Tamil Nadu might record above 100°C for the next few days as intense heat wave conditions are predicted in the State.

Meanwhile, under the influence of a cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area, mild showers are predicted over the western ghats, and Kanniyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu for the next five days. Even north interior districts might receive light rain due to the soaring heat witnessed over the last few days.