Chennai is sizzling at 42 degrees Celsius, the highest this season

Pigeons sitting on a merry-go-round on a hot summer day at Marina Beach | Photo credit: B. Velankanni Raj

Chennai on Wednesday recorded its highest ever temperature this season with Meenambakkam sizzling at 42 degrees Celsius and Nungambakkam recording 40.7 degrees Celsius.

Meenambakkam, Chennai’s airport, was the hottest place in the state, beating Vellore, which finished second at 41.6 degrees Celsius, and Tiruttani at 41.5 degrees Celsius.

According to data provided by the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC) here, Nungambakkam recorded a deviation of 2.5 degrees Celsius from the normal of 38.2 degrees Celsius and Meenambakkam a rise of 2.9 degrees Celsius from the normal of 39.1 degrees Celsius. The normal temperature is an average obtained from 30 years of data.

Chance of rain

According to VR Durai, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, temperatures are likely to remain high over the north coast of Tamil Nadu for at least a week. “It’s cloudy and raining in some places in the rest of the state,” he said.

Heavy rain at isolated places is likely on Thursday, with thunder and lightning at one or two places over the Ghat areas of Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Theni, Erode and Dindigul.

Light to moderate rain at isolated places with thunder and lightning at one or two places is likely over rest of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal region.

Heavy rain at isolated places with thunder and lightning at one or two places over Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Tiruchi, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Tirupattur, Erode and Nilgiris districts is likely on Friday.

Published – 21 May 2026 0:37 AM IST