Chennai: After a hot day when temperatures climbed nearly 3°C above normal, evening rain brought relief to many parts of the city and its suburbs on Saturday. While IMD has forecast light to moderate rain over the city and the suburbs only on Sunday, some parts of north coastal Tamil Nadu may continue to receive light to moderate rainfall till Tuesday.Meteorologists said the rainfall was triggered by intense daytime heating, which caused warm, moisture-laden air near the surface to rise rapidly. As the rising air cooled at higher altitudes, towering cumulonimbus clouds developed, leading to evening thunderstorms.“On Sunday, the city and the suburbs may receive light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning during the evening or night. The sky may remain partly cloudy, with maximum temperatures of 38°C and minimum temperatures of 27°C,” an IMD bulletin said.IMD has also forecast light to moderate rainfall at isolated places over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal till Tuesday. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of 40-50kmph may occur at one or two places on Sunday and Monday.Earlier in the day, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 38.4°C and 38°C, around 3.3°C and 2.8°C above normal. Humidity remained between 62% and 99%, making conditions uncomfortable before clouds built up by evening.Rainfall varied in intensity in the city and the suburbs. Nungambakkam recorded 4mm and Meenambakkam 9mm. Sathyabama University logged 3.5mm, NIOT Pallikaranai, Taramani and Chembarambakkam 1.5mm each, while Ennore Port and VIT Chennai received 0.5mm each.
