Date:26/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/26/stories/2006052621440400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Sudden spell of showers in city

Staff Reporter

Weather officials attribute it to "local thunderstorm activity" Local thunderstorm activity, says Met

CHENNAI: A sudden spell of showers brought out umbrellas and wet weather gear on Chennai roads on Thursday afternoon.

The rains are due to "local thunderstorm activity" that is common in summer, said officials at the Regional Meteorological Centre. Nungambakkam received 7 mm of rainfall while Meenambakkam received traces.

A combination of factors such as the early setting of the sea breeze and cloud development contributed to the precipitation, the officials said.

Clouds developed when the hot air from the land rose and came into contact with moist air in the atmosphere, said officials in the Weather office.

The showers were brief but enough to leave big puddles in the potholes on city roads such as Rukmani Lakshmipathy Salai in Egmore that remains damaged after the last monsoon rains.

The weather forecast for Friday is generally cloudy with the possibility of a shower or thundershower in some areas during evening or night. The maximum temperature will be around 37 degree Celsius.

In suburbs such as Tambaram and Chromepet too, the sharp showers in the afternoon forced people to scramble for cover. The spell went on for nearly 20 minutes.