Saturday, July 31, 2010

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.

No comments: