Chennai records hottest day of year so far due to Amphan – Times of India

Rough waves at Kasimedu fishing harbour due to cyclone Amphan on Tuesday

Chennai: From rough seas to hottest day of the year so far, super cyclone Amphan has left a trail of unfavourable weather conditions across Tamil Nadu coast as it is moving from Andaman Sea towards the northwest Bay of Bengal.
Seas across TN coast was rough with waves reaching a height of more than 4.6 in some locations making it difficult for fishermen to venture out into the sea, while in areas like Chennai, the temperatures crossed 40°C for the first time this year making it uncomfortable for people to stay indoors.
As the storm is likely to hit the coast near West Bengal-Bangladesh on Wednesday afternoon or evening, meteorologists said seas will be rough while sizzling weather is likely to continue in many areas of the state including Chennai at least for the next four days.
On Tuesday, Nungambakkam weather station recorded 41.3°C and Meenambakkam 41.4°C. IMD officials said it was due to the westerly-northwesterly winds, which is a pull effect of the cyclone, as it moves across the Bay of Bengal. Other areas that touched 40°C including Cuddalore (40°C), Madurai (40.4°C), Thiruthani (41.3°C) and Vellore (41.3°C). “High temperature is likely to continue till May 23. After the cyclone makes a landfall, it’ll take a day to dissipate. Its effects will continue even a day or two after it dissipates and slowly seabreeze will set in,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD, Chennai. On Monday night, south and northwest parts of Chennai recorded rain as the city was in the periphery of the cyclone, but 10 hours later, it became unbearably hot and humid.
The IMD has forecast, “Sky condition likely to be generally cloudy. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 41°C and 29°C in the city for the next 48 hours.”
Weather blogger Pradeep John said, “On Wednesday, heat from Rayalaseema area will be advected towards Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur, Chennai and Chengelpet zone. Expect increase upto 42/43°C. We can feel the warm wind at night as well.”
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad has forecast high waves, due to the cyclone, ranging between 3m to 4.6m till 11.30pm on Wednesday along north TN coast from Point Calimer to Pulicat and between 2.5m to 4m in the southern TN coast from Kolachal to Dhanushkodi. Fishermen in several parts of TN did not venture into the sea since Monday.
“We saw about 20-feet tall waves hitting the coast. The hull of all our fibre boats anchored along the coast is now damaged due to the rough waves. Though there was no warning from the authorities, we still didn’t venture into the sea,” said TR Mahendran, a fisherman from Nalla Thaneer Odai Kuppam near Ennore.