Heat wave hits Chennai early this year

Feb. 24: The cool weather that comforted Chennaiites all these days is set to change with the impending arrival of summer.

The city, which experienced a minimum temperature of 18 to 20 degree Celsius for the last two months, has now started recording around 24 degree Celsius.

According to a senior official at the regional meteorological centre here, the subcontinent is currently experiencing a seasonal transition.

Though the actual summer is yet to start, people may feel an increase in the temperature.

Though both Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam currently recorded a maximum temperature of around 33 degree Celsius, the city residents might feel it was very hot because they would have been used to the cooler temperatures earlier, the official said.

With temperatures soaring, seasonal fruits such as watermelon, mango and cucumber have started to arrive at the Koyambedu fruit market.

“Currently, the supply of seasonal fruits, particularly watermelon has started. From mid March more stocks of watermelon will arrive from Tindivanam,” Sreenivasan, a fruit vendor at Koyambedu wholesale market said.

“With the summer fast approaching, the sale of tender coconut will also surge and I have already paid an advance of Rs 20,000 for a stocks of coconut to arrive from Pollachi,” he added.