Chennai: Summer heat is picking up in the suburbs, with Meenambakkam recording 36.1°C on Thursday. Weathermen said the presence of land winds and the delayed arrival of easterlies may push daytime temperatures to 36°C to 37°C again on Friday.“On Friday, dry weather may prevail over the city and the suburbs, with maximum temperatures likely to be around 36°C to 37°C and minimum temperatures at 25°C to 26°C. The sky may be partly cloudy,” an IMD bulletin said. On Thursday, Nungambakkam recorded 33.8°C, near-normal temperature for the day.Meteorologists said during the summer, the arrival of easterlies, or winds from the sea, is key to keeping daytime temperatures in check over land. A delay in the onset of the sea breeze can lead to a rise in temperatures. The sea breeze may also take longer to move inland, meaning suburbs may be hotter than areas closer to the coast. Winds from the west are typically hot and dry.Across the state, IMD has forecast maximum temperatures to remain above normal till April 6. A trough, an elongated region of relatively low pressure, extending from interior Tamil Nadu to central Konkan may bring light to moderate rainfall over Western Ghat districts and south Tamil Nadu on April 3 and 4.Earlier, bloggers said there is a possibility of a spike in temperatures after April 4, with suburbs likely to breach the 40°C mark.
