Chennai: Nights are turning warmer in the city, with minimum temperatures staying above 20C since the start of the month. Is winter already behind us?The IMD’s monthly outlook suggests Feb may not deliver the chill many expect, with night temperatures likely to hover around 21oC–22oC, close to the seasonal normal. Day temperatures, however, are expected to rise progressively as the month advances. While private forecasters broadly agree that winter has largely run its course and Feb could set the stage for summer 2026, bloggers say there is still a narrow window for cooler nights in the days ahead.
Climatologically, the city records an average maximum temperature of 31.2oC and a minimum of 22.4oC in Feb.“Minimum temperatures may remain around 21oC and maximum at 31oC at least for the next five days. But temperatures are likely to rise progressively through the month,” said P Senthamarai Kannan, director, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, IMD, Chennai.On Sunday, the IMD forecast dry weather to prevail, with shallow mist/haze likely during early morning hours. Partly cloudy skies may maintain temperatures at a maximum of around 31oC and a minimum of 21oC.Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist, Skymet Weather, said winter is nearing its end across most parts of India, with temperatures rising over north India. “The easterlies and cloud cover are making nights warmer,” he said.Blogger Pradeep John, however, said winter may not be completely over yet. “There is a possibility of night temperatures dipping below 20oC in interior parts of city next two nights. But this is more likely at Meenambakkam than Nungambakkam,” he said.On Saturday, before sunrise, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded minimum temperatures of 21.8oC and 20.9oC, respectively.In contrast, hill stations continue to remain cold, underlining the seasonal transition. Kodaikanal recorded the lowest minimum at 6.8oC, followed by Coonoor at 10.7oC and Yercaud at 11oC.Meanwhile, daytime temperatures in city are showing a gradual upward trend, signalling a slow but steady shift away from winter conditions. Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 30.3oC and 31.2oC, near the normal temperature for the month.
