Chennai: Think twice before you step out of your house as Tamil Nadu is witnessing brutally high temperatures with a few districts breaking all-time weather records on Tuesday.
Madurai noted 41.8 degrees Celsius, breaking the all-time July record of 1997. Tiruchy station, on the other hand, noted 40.6 degrees, which is the highest in a decade.
According to data from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Madurai’s all-time highest temperature in July of 41.6 degrees was noted in 19 July 1997.
Tuesday’s temperature, which is five degrees above the normal July temperature, broke the record with 0.2 degrees difference. The city has also recorded above 40 degrees temperature for the consecutive five days.
Dry, scorching heat, with less humidity content made the lives of Madurai residents terrible. Reasoning the extreme temperature, an official from the RMC said, “There is absolutely no moisture due to the weak southwest monsoon at the west coast. The atmospheric condition is so suppressed resulting in dry heat.”
K. Srikanth who blogs at Chennaiyil Oru Mazhaikalam, said, “There was only 20 per cent of humidity in the evening. The lower humidity levels signify the dry heat, which can cause sunstroke. It is better not to venture out during the sunny hours.” Generally, humidity levels in Madurai during July would be around 40 – 50 per cent.
