Chennai: People stepping out to cast their vote on April 23 should be prepared to wait in long queues under sweltering conditions as IMD has warned that hot and humid weather may persist.Daytime temperatures may touch 37C-38C, while higher humidity of 60%-80% in coastal areas could push the “feels-like” temperature to 40C-41C. Across the state, interior districts are likely to be hotter than coastal areas. There is also a possibility of rainfall over south coastal districts such as Kanyakumari and Tuticorin on Thursday.“Chennai may be the only coastal district recording around 37C-38C. Max temperatures over other coastal districts may be lower as the sea breeze keeps them in check.
However, the heat index will increase,” said V R Durai, director, area cyclone warning centre, RMC Chennai. “Relative humidity will be lower, around 20%-30%, over interior districts, so actual temperatures there may be higher.”On Wednesday, the city and suburbs are expected to experience hot and humid conditions, with maximum temperatures of 37C-38C and minimum temperatures around 28C.Till April 25, maximum temperatures may remain 2C-3C above normal over parts of interior districts and near normal over coastal districts, Puducherry and Karaikal. On April 23, there is also a chance of light rain at isolated places over Western Ghat districts, delta coastal areas and southern coastal districts.
