Many parts of TN including Chennai are hot like summer this September

In Meenambakkam this month, the highest day temperature recorded was 38.5°C, setting a record for the second highest temperature in the city this decade. | Photo credit: M. SRINATH

This September is turning out to be rather summer-like in parts of Tamil Nadu, with maximum temperatures remaining above normal at several places.

Officials at the Regional Meteorological Center (RMC), Chennai attributed the increased temperatures in interior and coastal areas like Chennai to the weak southwest monsoon and lack of cloud cover so far this month. While similar cases have occurred at various stations in the past, this year’s September was unusually hot in many places.

Places like Erode, Palayamkottai, Vellore, Tiruchi and Madurai were among the hottest spots in the state this month. At some meteorological stations in these locations at the beginning of this month, the daily temperature exceeded 40 °C. On Thursday, the mercury hissed at several places, climbing to 4°C or 5°C above normal. For the third consecutive day, Tiruchi recorded the highest daily temperature of 39.5°C in the state.

Nungambakkam in Chennai recorded 38.1°C, the second highest September maximum temperature recorded in the city in a decade. The city’s overall September record is 38.9 °C, registered in 1883. In Meenambakkam, the highest daily temperature recorded this month was 38.5 °C, setting a record for the second highest temperature in the city in the decade.

However, the RMC has predicted a change in weather conditions as increased rain activity especially in north and interior Tamil Nadu will gradually cool down the sweltering heat from Friday.

The El Niño effect

Pointing out that most parts of Tamil Nadu experienced unusually hot weather for September, officials said El Niño, a global weather phenomenon, also affected the September weather conditions in Tamil Nadu.

VR Durai, Head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, RMC, said that the current wet spell will be triggered by a trough that extends up to the Gulf of Mannar and not essentially due to monsoon influence. It would bring clouds and precipitation only to certain regions. The absence of clouds and the prevailing types of wind contributed to such high temperatures. A stream of relatively dry southerly winds over the state and a lack of adequate storm cloud development kept the temperature up, he said.

As the trough is expected to shift its position, rainfall and temperature are expected to increase over north Tamil Nadu, including Chennai and Vellore and interior parts, from Friday, he said.

Meteorologists said September usually brought significant rainfall to Tamil Nadu. YEA Raj, former Deputy Director General of Meteorology, said that the break in monsoon conditions with the southwesterly component and the wind convergence that helped the development of storm clouds had not occurred more prominently this season. Rainfall in the next few weeks may reduce the rainfall deficit.

Officials added that weather models were being monitored and radars were undergoing maintenance as part of monsoon preparedness measures.

Published – 17 Sep 2026 23:08 IST