Chennai - After May & June its July's turn to be cooler & wetter

Chennaiites are finding this month unusual — and they are not complaining. Not only has the monthly average temperature fallen , the days are getting good rains. The weatherman attributes this ‘monsoon flavour’ to low pressure formations and some other favourable meteorological systems. “The presence of an upper air cyclonic circulation over the west-central Bay with a southern tilt, a north-south trough over Chennai and a weak upper air system have the potential to bring scattered rainfall” said YEA Raj, deputy directorgeneral, Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai.

The trough has been present for many days during this month, resulting in light showers. For the common man, it just means he has to take out the umbrella or get drenched, happily. “This evening was almost like a monsoon day with intermittent drizzle. This is a pleasant surprise in the city which sees an extended summer till as late as October. Many residents said the weather was similar to that experienced in winter due to murky sky and intermittent showers through the day. Evening showers in the past few days have left some of the low-level areas, particularly in suburbs, water-logged.

Chennai gets an average of 98 mm rain in July, this July Nungambakkam has registered 155 mm of rainfall. Unlike Coimbatore and Kanyakumari, which are in the windward side of the southwest monsoon, most areas do not benefit from good precipitation. Y. E. A. Raj, Deputy Director-General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Centre, said it was unusual for the city to be wet and receive such rainfall during July. Chennai normally receives more rainfall in August and September. While July 2008 and 2009 were comparatively drier, receiving 29 mm and 37 mm, the city has recorded good rains in July in the past.

Karnataka - Copious rainfall ensures steady flow into major reservoirs

Copious rainfall in the catchment areas of the Cauvery and the Kabini have ensured a steady inflow into the major reservoirs in the Cauvery command area since the last 24 hours. This has brought relief to the authorities, who were concerned about the slackening of the south-west monsoon as a result of which the water-level in the major dams—Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS), Kabini and Harangi

Krishnaraja Sagar dam (KRS)

Heavy rain in neighbouring district of Kodagu has augmented the inflow into the KRS. Officials in the Cauvery Command Area Development Authority (CADA) told The Hindu that the inflow into the reservoir was 14,874 cusecs on Thursday morning and it increased to nearly 17,000 cusecs by evening. The outflow from the reservoir was 3,500 cusecs. The water-level in the KRS was 91.30 ft as against the full reservoir level (FRL) of 124.80 ft. The live storage in the reservoir was 8.34 tmcft.

Kabini dam

The Kapila is rising owing to heavy rain in Wayanad district of Kerala which is the catchment area. As a result of incessant rain in the last 24 hours, the inflow into the Kabini dam at Beechanahalli in H.D. Kote increased significantly. The water-level in the reservoir is 2281.5 ft as against the FRL of 2,284 ft. The inflow into the reservoir was 22,271 cusecs at 6 a.m. but increased to 24.750 cusecs by evening.

Harangi reservoir

Harangi reservoir near Kushalnagar was let out into the river on Wednesday, as the water-level reached 2,854.70 ft as against the full reservoir level of 2,859 ft. The inflow increased to 16,646 cusecs. While 9,000 cusecs was released into the river on Wednesday night, this was reduced to 4,769 cusecs on Thursday morning.

The average rainfall for Kodagu district has crossed the 1,000-mm mark this year. According to statistics received on Thursday, the district recorded 1,132.33 mm of rainfall. The figure during the corresponding period last year was 1,754.65 mm. Bhagamandala received 98.40 mm of rainfall between 8 a.m. on Wednesday and 8 a.m. on Thursday. Shantalli in Somwarpet taluk continued to receive the highest rainfall of 156.20 mm during the same period, while Sampaje recorded 93.40 mm, Madikeri 92.40 mm, Srimangala 87 mm, Hudikeri 77.50 mm and Kodlipet 53.20 mm rainfall.

Tungabhadra dam

Water was released into the Tungabhadra Left Bank Canal (TLBC) on Wednesday to facilitate sowing of kharif crops in the command areas of Koppal and Raichur districts. Water will be supplied to the canal till mid-November.Water was also released into the Tungabhadra Right Bank High-Level Canal (RBHLC) and the Right Bank Low-Level Canal (RBLLC) to facilitate sowing of kharif crops in the command areas of Bellary district and parts of Andhra Pradesh. Water will be supplied to the canal till November-end.

This year, the release of water has begun even before the storage at the reservoir has not yet reached to its Full Reservoir Level (1,633 ft.). On Wednesday, July 28, the inflow was at 56.242 cusecs, the water level was 1,613.73 ft. with storage of 43.305 tmcft. of water.During the corresponding period last year, the level of the reservoir touched the Full Reservoir Level with storage of 104.340 tmcft.

Almatti dam

The water levels of various reservoirs built on River Krishna are slowly rising with more rains reported in the catchment area. Almatti dam in Karnataka is almost up to brim and is releasing more than one lakh cusecs of water to downstream Narayanpur dam in the same state. Narayanpur also started releasing water into Jurala in AP as the discharge from Almatti stepped up on Thursday. At Jurala, water level reached 1,043 feet against 1,045-feet full reservoir level. Irrigation officials opened 24 gates at Jurala to let 25,000 cusecs water downstream.

Srisailam reservoir

Increased inflows from Krishna and Tungabadhra saw a sudden surge of water into Srisailam reservoir where the water level touched 835 feet against 885-feet full reservoir level (FRL). This will help the authorities generate more power to ease the ongoing shortage.

Sriram Sagar reservoir

In the Godavari basin, the Sriram Sagar reservoir continues to receive copious inflows from upstream. The water level reached 1,075 feet against 1,091-feet full reservoir level. Singur, Nizamsagar, Yeluru reservoirs also received substantial inflows in the last three days with widespread rains in the catchment area.

Jamnagar gets 466 mm & Mandvi 449 mm as Rain batters Gujarat

A record-breaking 466 mm of rainfall was recorded in Jamnagar city in the past 24 hours. Rains continued to lash the city and district all through Monday night and early on Tuesday morning, causing major parts of the city to be inundated. According to reports from Jamnagar district control room, the city recorded the maximum rainfall with 466 mm up till Tuesday morning. This apart, Khambhaliya recorded 208 mm rainfall, Jodiya 212 mm, Lalpur 164 mm, Kalyanpur, 155 mm and Bhanvad 85 mm rainfall. Mandvi, too, got its highest 24-hour rainfall of 449 mm.

Caught in an endless spiral of incessant rainfall, many localities of Jamnagar in Gujarat remained submerged after waters from the city's Lakota lake overflowed in the wake of heavy rains earlier in the day. Local residents were left struggling for survival after water flooded their homes and inundated roads while bringing normal life in the city to a virtual standstill.

Hundreds of people and vehicles remained stranded due to roads either being cut-off by the floodwaters or closed as a precautionary measure."The Lakota pond, which is located in the heart of Jamnagar, has overflowed because of the rains. We have diverted the overflowing waters to the regional river, due to which the inflow has been significantly reduced. The outflow of water is also being controlled by regulating the gateways," said P. Swarup, Commissioner of Jamnagar.

In 12 hours, Kodinar gets 355.6mm rainfall

22 July 2010 - Times of India

Heavy to very heavy rains have been reported from all across Saurashtra, with Kodinar and Talala receiving maximum rainfall in the past 24 hours till Wednesday evening. While more heavy showers have been predicted in the next 72 hours. According to the state meteorological department, Kodinar witnessed a cloud burst type of situation in which 355.6 mm of rainfall was reported. Similarly, Talala also experienced heavy rains at 254 mm of rainfall by Wednesday evening, bureau reports said.

"Flash floods were reported in Kodinar and Talala, where people living in low-lying areas were evacuated to safer places on a war-footing. Total rainfall of the season in Kodinar has now gone up to 680 mm. Areas like Viratnagar, government quarters and Ravi Complex in Kodinar were deluged with most of the shops remaining shut and people indoors. In Talala, Hiran river experienced a flash flood which swamped Tirupati Nagar area. A house in Tirupati Nagar was struck by lightning. However, no casualty was reported," said a district administrative official from Junagadh. However, no untoward report was received from any place in Junagadh.

Other talukas to receive major rainfall were Una, Visavadar and Sutrapada apart from Junagadh city. Schools and colleges in both Kodinar and Talala remained closed due to heavy rains. Following flash flood in Hiran river in Talala, water was flowing seven feet high on the bridge linking Sangodragir area, turning it into a virtual island disconnected from administrative help. Reports said, in Kodinar, two gates of Shingoda dam were opened after it started overflowing, while in Talala, 15 feet of water intake was reported in Kamleshwer dam.

Widespread Rainfall across Tamilnadu in last 2 days

July 10, 2010 - The Hindu

Ramanathapuram

Several parts of Ramanathapuram districts received heavy rain on Friday, bringing cheer to the people. The rain, which began at around 10.30 a.m., continued till around 12 noon. The town received good rainfall for the first time since May. Rainwater logged the streets such as Vandikkara Street, Vevekanandar Street, Salai Street, Kenikarai, Agraharam Road and other low lying areas of the town. The sky was overcast all through the day in Ramanathapuram. Other areas including Paramakudi, a few places around Thiruvadanai received moderate to heavy rain. The rain had brought down the temperature to a great extent, which was abnormally high during the last few days. It was expected that the present climate would continue to prevail for a few more days.

Sivaganga

Many parts of Sivaganga districts including Karaikudi and Sivaganga also received heavy downpour on Friday. The people of Karaikudi enjoyed the heavy rain that lashed at the early hours. Many streets were flooded due to the heavy rainfall.

Salem

Rains for nearly two hours lashed Salem city and its suburbs on Thursday night inundating all low-lying areas. An unidentified body was found in a drainage channel on Friday morning at Seelanaickenpatti here. Rain water mixed with sewage entered the houses at many low-lying areas in the city forcing the residents to undergo a sleepless night on Thursday. As Corporation was undertaking desilting works in the channel at Narayanana Nagar, the entire water overflowed on to the streets causing great hardship to the residents who insisted that the works should be completed before the onset of rainy season. Sankagiri registered the maximum rainfall of 66 mm followed by Salem city - 55.5 mm, Yercaud - 55, Mettur - 54.8, Edapadi - 44 and Omalur - 19.8.

Krishnagiri

Heavy rain lashed many parts of the Krishangiri districts on Thursday night. Due to this, water level in many water bodies in the districts have improved moderately. Flood water entered residential colonies in low-lying areas near KRP Dam in Krishnagiri. Villagers of Chinnamuthur, Sundekuppam and Periyamuthur said that even a brief spell of rain, flood water logged in the area for two-three days. This is because of the absence of proper storm water drain facilities and encroachments on the canals, villagers said. The water level of the KRP Dam on Thursday was 48 ft against its full height of 52 ft. Depression brought rain in the district whole night on Thursday, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Water levels rose in many water bodies in Denkanikottai, Thali area. The maximum rainfall registered in Thali is 107 mm. Rainfall in other areas in mm: Nedungal - 96.4, Shoolagiri - 86.4, Denkankottai - 86, KRP Dam - 75, Krishnagiri - 37.5, Anchetti - 25, Uthangarai - 33, Hosur - 14.4 and Royakottai - 14.

Dharmapuri

Due to heavy downpour in Dharmapuri, many roads such as Four Roads junction, Tirupattur Road, Mohamed Ali Road and Pennagaram Road were flooded. In many places, rain water was flowing on the road along with sewage. Rainfall registered in mm: Palacode - 114, Dharmapuri - 105, Marandaalli - 92.6, Thumbal Alli Dam - 57, Pennagaram - 44, Pambar - 40, Nagavathi - 33 and Chinnar Dam - 27.

Erode

Erode district witnessed moderate to heavy showers on Thursday night. Bhavani Sagar registered a maximum rainfall of 64 mm followed by Perundurai (30 mm). A few other parts in the district including Erode town, Bhavani, Gobichettipalayam and Sathyamangalam also received moderate showers on Thursday night.

Rainfall characteristics of Coimbatore district in Tamilnadu

The Coimbatore district is situated in North Western part of the TamilNadu, the district covering an area of 4889 sq.km falls between 10°13'4" North to 11° 24'5" North latitude and 76° 39' 25" East to 77° 18' 26" East longitude. The temperature ranges between 18.32°C in the month of January and 36.42°C in the month of April. The area is bonded by Western Gates on West, Nilgiri hills in North West and Anaimalai and Palani hill in south. The district gradient of slope gradually decreases towards west to east, the district drain Bhavani, Noyal, Pallar, Amaravathi rivers. The study deals the rainfall characteristics of the Coimbatore District, which includes the spatial distribution and variability through different seasons, precipitation ratio and frequency occurrences. The study is based on 49 years of the monthly rainfall data for 33 rain gauge stations.

Winter Season

During the winter season the region heavily experiences low rainfall and it is driest among the all season which is maximum recorded at adjacent area of the region which Coonoor 86.82 mm in the month of February and lowest recorded at Coimbatore town which is 4.1mm in the month of February. The amount of rainfall decreases north west to north east and central part of region such as Annur, Sulur, Sultanpet, Krishnapurm and Podanur. Its rainfall average 20mm, this season contributes 2.07% to mean annual rainfall.

The variability rainfall is higher in this season while comparatively to other season, because low rainfall areas experiences greater fluctuation of variability. The lowest variability recorded adjacent area of region which is Coonoor 77.29% maximum at Palladam 232.2% and lowest variability recorded north western part which is Anaiktti 115.34% and southern part such as Upper Niradam (Chinnakallar), Solaiyar Nagar, Valaparai, Anaimalai experiences the low variability and central part eastern part gradually increase variability of rainfall, this fluctuations indicates the region experiences heavy low rainfall.

Summer Season

This is hot weather season the mount of rainfall gradually increases and however, the amount of rainfall occurrence in this season is largely due to convection effect, this season contributes 14.97% of mean annual rainfall this season average rainfall is 186.01mm and almost 80% area receives more than 186 mm accept north western and southern part of district. The highest amount of rainfall is recorded at the Upper Niradam (Chinnakallar) 224.14mm in the month of May and seasonal average is 370.7 mm and where the lowest rainfall is recorded in Krishnapuram 5.3mm and its seasonal average 69.8 mm.

The variability during this hot weather season maximum recorded at P.N. Palayam (86.36%), Attaikatti (79.93%), Negamam (78.34%), Sulur (77.86%), and Krishnapuram (76.07%) Coimbatore town (67.35%) Podanur (63.36%), Peelamedu (56.6%), and variability generally decreases from north to south and lowest variability experience adajecent area at Tthirumrthy Nagar 44.32%, and Solaiyar Nagar (49.07%), Sultanpet (52.03%), Vettaikarnpudur (54.93%), Mettupalayam (56.6%), and Pollchi (58.06%),.The variability of region highest experience in north and eastern part of region. This season will be low because west of influences by the pre monsoon winds.

South West Monsoon Season

Huge amount of rainfall variation noticed in this season, half of northern part of district receives low rain and half of southern part receives heaviest rainfall during season. The average rainfall of this season 573.20 mm and it is 46.13 % of mean annual rainfall. The highest seasonal rainfall recorded in Upper Niradam (Chinnakallar) (3655.5mm), and 1202.1 mm in the month of July, 996.25mm in June, 924.22 mm in August. Soliyar Nagar 2846.1mm, Anaimalais 2702.8mm, Valparai 2098.1mm, Topslip 772.4mm, lowest seasonal rainfall recorded in Krishnapurm 60.5mm, and 7.4 mm rainfall recorded in the month of August Sulur 113.9, Sultanpet 136.4 mm rainfall but southern parts of Districts receives more than 80% rainfall during this season. Most of south and west of Pollchi and Palaghat gap experiences highest rainfall, because of influence by leeward of Western Ghats. Upper Niradam, Soliyar Nagar, Anaimalais and Topslip are wettest places of district.

The south west monsoon rainfall variability experiences very less variability, comparatively to the other season, that is the 28.02% lowest at Topslip, Anaimalai, Valparai, Solaiyar Nagar and west of Pollachi and south of Chitrachavdi experiences very less variability due to heavy rainfall during this season. Where as very high variability experiences at adjacent area of region Poolankinar 89.99%, Sultanpet, Sulur, Krishnapurm, Podanur, and P.N.Palayam.

North East monsoon season

The North east monsoon season is important rainy season in the district, total rainfall in this season is low comparatively to the south west monsoon, but the eastern, north western, andcentral Upland region such as Annur, Sulur, Sultanpet, Negamam, Krishnapuram, Podanur Coimbatore town, and Peelamedu experiences maximum quantum of rainfall. This season contributes 36.82% of mean annual rainfall and average rainfall this season is 457.49 mm rainfall. The rainfall is gradually increase east to north west and south western part of the district, the highest rainfall recorded in adjacent area at Sundakapalayam 1713.3 mm, Upper Niradam 599.3, Anaikatty 589.64mm, Attakati 570.2, and where as lowest rainfall is recorded in Vettaikarnpdur 258.2mm, Annur 260.6mm and Krishnapuram 271.4mm, and Sultanpet 284.4mm, 80% of area receives well rain in this season, and most of agricultural activity takes places for showing crops.

The north east monsoon rainfall variability experiences higher than the south west monsoon due to lesser rain, the maximum variability recorded at adjacent area of such as Sundakaplayam 453.74% and lowest at Kethi 24.37% and north of Pollachi indicated higher variability and Anaimalai, Topslip, and Sultanpet experiences low rainfall variability. However rest of area experiences uniformity of variability.

Variability of Rainfall

“Variability defined as the deviation from mean” or “ratio of the standard deviation to the mean rainfall” and in other words variability of co-efficient of variation. Annual rainfall variability of region stretches between 19.69% to 387.91% at adjacent area of the region which is Coonoor and Sundakapalyam respectively, and 21.16% at Topslip and highest variability recorded in the central part of region that is Padanur (52.28%) and P.N.Palayam (51.81%) at northern part of region. Sultanpet experiences very low variability in eastern part district and in south western part Topslip and Vettaikarnpudur experiences low variability and Anaikatti, Coonoor experiences low variability in north western part of the region where as rest of district experiences homogenous variability in the region.

Coimbatore district bounded by Western Ghats,in the west and north of Nilagiri hills, in the south Anaimalai and Palani hills, and this district stretches in rain shadow region of Western Ghats. Normal rainfall of region during 1959­-2008 is 1242.49 mm and this district receives above normal rainfall of Tamil Nadu state. The maximum rainfall recorded at Upper Niradam (Chinnakallar) 1202.01mm in the month of July,and lowest of region recorded at Coimbatore town 4.1 mm in the month of February. The Coimabtore districts experiences driest in the month of January. The analysis of region heavy rainfall experiences towards the south and south western part and north western part in summer, south west monsoon and north east monsoon season, and huge amount of deficit in the east, north east and gradually in south east part and central part of district. The south west monsoon contributes the highest percentage of rainfall, which is 46.13% (573 mm), north east monsoon 36.82% (458 mm),summer 14.97% (186 mm) and winter season contribute lowest of which is 2.07 % (26 mm).

Source: Ishappa Muniyappa Rathod, Aruchamy.S, epartment of Geography, School of Geosciences,Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli­.
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Ambala receives around 600 mm rainfall in three days

July 07, 2010 - The Hindu

Ambala, around 45 km from Chandigarh, has received around 600 mm rainfall in the last three days.

Ambala Rainfall
——————–
5th July – 174 mm
6th July – 191 mm
7th July – 197 mm

Major roads and rail tracks are flooded. Rivulets like Tangri near Ambala and Markanada were flowing above the danger mark. Few cracks have also appeared in the SYL canal in Kurukshetra where the water has crossed the danger mark and has entered many villages. "More enquiry counter to be opened at Ambala , the officer should show more maturity, " said Manish Tiwari , CPRO , Northern Railways.

Passengers in the Ambala Railway station are stranded as confusion still prevails as a result of the floods. "I have just arrived from Hissar, the train will start only by late evening. They may also cancel some trains, but what we expect is that at least they keep updating us about the trains services", said a stranded passenger. There was three to four feet of water at many places in Ambala, disrupting power supply and paralyzing normal life. Now the situation is under control,’ Ambala Deputy Commissioner S.P. Srow said.

Ambala, which is also a major army and air force base, remained under one to two feet of water. ‘No one from the administration is helping us. We don’t even have drinking water. All our household things have been damaged by water,’ said Savitri Devi, a resident of Ambala.

Rainfall characteristics of Nilgris in Tamilnadu

South West Monsoon

Greater part of the total annual rainfall (88 cm out of 170 cm) is brought by the south-west monsoon which blows from June to September and the heaviest falls occur in the stations of the which are furthest west and thus are the first to receive this monsoon. As it travels eastwards the current rapidly deposits the moisture with which it is laden and every succeeding station to the east gets less and less rain from it. Thus at Devala which is just at the top of the Western Ghats and receives the full force of the monsoon straight from the sea and the total annual rainfall is nearly 411 cm against the district average of 170 cm and of which rainfall during the south-west monsoon is 336 cm against the district average for that period of 88 cm. Gudalur is much sheltered from the south-west by the spurs on the northern boundary of the Ouchterlony Valley and there the annual rainfall drops to 229 cm of which nearly 177 cm are received during the south-west monsoon. But at Naduvattam which is above these spurs and on the very crest of the plateau and so just at the spot where the monsoon receives a sudden check in its progress the total rainfall rises again to nearly 258 cm of which 201 cm come with the south-west monsoon.

As the monsoon travels eastwards across the plateau it gives less and less rain. The fall during its course at Paikara (only four miles east of Naduvattam as the crow flies) drops to 131 cm, at Ooty (eight miles again east) to 57 cm and at Coonoor which is sheltered by the big spurs of the Dodabetta range to only 40 cm. This Dodabetta range checks the current and causes it to deposit the greater part of the moisture which it has left and all north east the recording stations to the east of it (Coonoor, Wellington, Kothagiri and Kodanad) receive less rain from it than they do from the north-east monsoon which blows in the directly opposite direction from October to December.

North East Monsoon

During the NE monsoon the above conditions are all reversed and the stations on the east of the district fare better than those on the west for the same reason as before namely that this monsoon reaches them first before it has deposited much of its moisture. At Coonoor which stands at the head of a ravine the mouth of which faces east and so collects the damp winds like a funnel the fall between October and December is as high as 78 cm. Wellington, which lies further within the plateau and is somewhat sheltered by the hills to the east of it receives only 54 cm. Kothagiri and Kodanad which are on the eastern crest of the plateau get 71 and 62 cm respectively and Kilkundah, where the rain driving up the Bhavani valley is checked receives 57 cm. But at Ooty which lies right under the protecting mass of Dodabetta, the fall during this monsoon is only 37 cm at Naduvattam, farther west only 32 cm and at Gudalur, down under the lee of the plateau only 27 cm.

Between January and March its the driest season of the year Coonoor, the other stations on the east of the district and Kilkundah all receive some benefit from the last showers of this north-east monsoon; but nowhere else is the fall in these three months as much as 5 cm. In April and May showers appear impartially all over the country and every station gets from 18-26 cm.

This unequal distribution of the rainfall, as is pointed out elsewhere in this book is of the greatest importance from an agricultural point of view plants and trees which will do well on the moisture west side refusing to flourish on the drier eastern slopes and also provides the resident in the district with a wide choice of climates. Its greatest extremes do not appear in the official statistics, for there are no recording stations in either the wettest or the driest parts of the district. Probably the annual rainfall on parts of the Kundahs is as much as 508 cm and that on the south eastern slopes above the Coimbatore district as little as 102 cm. The average annual fall in the district as a whole is raised by the heavy rain in its western stations and is thus larger than in any other collectorate except the two on the west Coast proper Malabar and South Canara.

In Ooty itself the total rainfall is only 123 cm which is less than that of Chennai 125 cm and very little more than the figures for the littoral districts (Chengelpet 115 cm, South Arcot 111 cm and Tanjore 114 cm) . Yet Ooty is popularly classed as a rainy spot. The chief reason for this is the fact that nearly two-fifths of its total fall is received during the three months (May — July) during which it is full of visitors and that this arrives in lighter showers than anywhere else in the district and is spread on an average of over 38 of the 92 days in those three months. A visitor who finds that more or less rain has fallen on 40 per cent of the days he has spent in the station and classes the place as damp locality.

Source: W. Francis, Asian Educational Services
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Chennai: One of the coolest June in decades

July 01, 2010 - Times Of India

If you enjoyed the weather more this June, you had good reason to feel as if spring was in the air. It was the third coolest June in 42 years with the mercury dipping below the average for 14 days in the month, said Met officials. “This June, the average fell from 37 to 35.2 degrees Celsius. In 1991, it was 34.3 degrees and 34.9 degrees in 1996,” said YEA Raj, deputy director general, regional meteorological centre. Since 2005, the monthly average has been higher. With the onset of the southwest monsoon, local thunder storm activity brought in a good amount of rainfall to the city. Met officials said the arrival of cyclone Laila and the rainfall in the wake of its withdrawal was the beginning of a good run on the weather front. The city enjoyed nine days of rainfall of varying degrees this June. Although nowhere near the record 698 mm seen in 1996, Nungambakkam registered 137 mm and Meenambakkam 130. The city’s normal is around 40 mm for June, added Raj. In 1991, the city received 264 mm in June.

The thunderstorm activity was not restricted to the city alone, with all but three districts receiving excess rainfall. Against the normal of 42.1 mm, the state received 78.5 mm, an 87% excess. “The last month has been exceedingly good for the state. The trend is likely to continue in July as well, and we can expect more rains and cooler days,” added Raj.