Chennai: As election campaigns intensify ahead of polling, the city and its suburbs are also heating up. Temperatures are expected to hover around 36-37C on Sunday and rise towards 40C after April 14. Bloggers said weather models indicate a sharper spike from April 16, when suburbs are likely to breach the 40C mark. This could signal the onset of peak summer in May, when meteorologists have forecast at least six heatwave days.Suburban areas, which are already warmer than the core city due to the delayed arrival of the sea breeze, are likely to experience the spike first. Data from Meenambakkam observatory over the past decade shows late-April surges, with peak temperatures often recorded after April 15, including 40.8C in 2016, 39.7C in 2017, 39.2C in 2019, 41.8C in 2021, 39.7C in 2023 and 39.6C in 2024.Data from the Nungambakkam observatory, which represents core city conditions, shows a similar trend. Peak April temperatures crossed 40C in 2016 (40.8C) and 2021 (41.2C), while 2017 (39.7C) and 2023 (38.1C) also saw sharp second-half surges. The city’s average maximum temperature in April is 34.7C. “Temperatures typically rise in the second half of April and peak through May and June as the sun moves northwards. This year, there is a chance of heatwave conditions in May,” a meteorologist said.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dry weather on Sunday, with maximum temperatures of 36-37C and minimum temperatures around 27C under partly cloudy skies. Daytime temperatures may remain 2-3 C above normal at isolated places, extending to a few areas on April 13 and 15. “The entire country may turn hotter in the last 10 days of April due to the absence of weather systems. Even if temperatures hover around 38-39C, rising humidity will add to discomfort,” said Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist, Skymet Weather.While interior districts such as Vellore (41C) and Karur (40.5C) have already crossed the 40C mark, bloggers said Chennai’s suburbs may follow around April 16. “Models show a spike after April 14. The rest of the month is likely to be hot,” said blogger Pradeep John.On Saturday, Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 34.6C and 37.1C, with humidity levels between 66% and 80% adding to the discomfort.
