Rain and thunderstorm take Chennai by surprise

Sudden rain brings cheer to Chennaiites. A scene at Saidapet on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: R. RAGU

After a hot, humid day, thunderstorms brought rain and joy to the city on Sunday afternoon.

The summer showers accompanied by thunder and lightning in several parts of the city brought temperature down by a few notches.

According to the data from the Regional Meteorological Office (RMC) here, rainfall recordings till 5.30 p.m. were: Nungambakkam observatory recorded 11 mm, Meenambakkam 8 mm, Jaya Engineering College 11.5 mm, Tiruttani 3.5 mm, Chembarambakkam 34.5 mm, Poonamallee 25 mm, Pallikaranai 12 mm and Puzhal 5.5. mm.

Chennai Nungambakkam recorded a maximum of 38.8 degree Celsius and Meenambakkam 39.6 degree Celsius. 

Robert,a resident of Tiruvallur town, said that his coconut tree broke and fell due to the heavy winds. “It was laden with tender coconut and the tree just split. Many branches in the mango tree too fell,” he said.

Krishnaveni, a resident of Nehru Nagar in Thoraipakkam, said by 3.30 p.m. the sky suddenly turned very dark. “It was almost like night,” she added.

Reports also came in of hail stones falling along with the rain at Poonamallee.

B. Amudha, Head (additional in-charge), RMC, said that Poonamallee recorded 25 mm of rain on Sunday. The radar showed red, which need not necessarily mean hail. When thunderstorms with gusty winds occur, the ice crystals in the upper portion of the cloud will be brought down due to intense drafts resulting in hail rain. It will be a very localised phenomenon, she explained. 

Flights diverted

As rains lashed the city on Sunday evening, a few flights were diverted from Chennai airport to Tiruchi and Bengaluru airports. As the rains began, some of the flights which were scheduled for arrival at that time couldn’t land at the city airport, sources said. 

Three flights from Madurai, Tiruchi and Singapore had to be diverted. The flight from Madurai departed around 2.30 p.m. and had to arrive in Chennai at 3.55 p.m. But it was diverted to Tiruchi. The flight from Tiruchi which left around 2.55 p.m. and had to land at 3.55 p.m. was diverted back to Tiruchi airport itself. 

The flight from Singapore which was to land at 3.55 p.m. was diverted to Bengaluru airport. No flights were cancelled due to rain, sources added.