Northern districts, including Vellore and Chennai, reeling under heat may receive moderate rainfall on Tuesday. After another sizzling day on Tuesday, maximum temperatures are expected to stay close to normal from Wednesday onwards.

Various places, particularly the coastal region, have been sizzling under above normal temperatures well into June. On Monday, Chennai Meenambakkam recorded 39.7 degrees Celsius, the hottest temperature for the day in the State. It was closely followed by Cuddalore and Parangipettai with 39.4 degrees Celsius, Vellore with 39.3 degrees Celsius and Chennai Nungambakkam, Tondi and Tiruttani with 39 degrees Celsius.

As the Southwest monsoon is likely to advance further over Tamil Nadu in the next two or three days, the Regional Meteorological Centre has predicted that isolated heavy rainfall may continue over interior and Western Ghats districts till June 11. On Monday too, places including Valparai and Kanniyakumari recorded rainfall till 6 p.m.

On Tuesday, the RMC has forecast that moderate rainfall may occur in north districts, including Vellore, Ranipet, Chennai and its neighbouring districts. Ten districts, including Nilgiris, Theni, and Dharmapuri, may experience heavy rainfall with gusty winds reaching a speed of 40-50 kmph.

The RMC has also warned that residents of north interior Tamil Nadu and coastal areas may experience discomfort and heat stress on Tuesday due to high maximum temperature and elevated humidity levels.

V.R. Durai, Director, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, RMC, said strong westerlies and lack of sea breeze to cool the daytime temperature led to sizzling weather particularly in coastal region. While daytime may be hot and humid, thundershower activity is expected in the evening over north Tamil Nadu districts on Tuesday. Active monsoon conditions over Kerala would influence heavy rainfall over Western Ghats districts this week.

Cool easterly wind has not set in on time for the past two days. Strong westerlies or south westerlies have been prevailing, leading to warm night temperatures in places like Cuddalore, Chennai, and Vellore. However, maximum temperatures may gradually dip and stay close to average from June 11, he said.

Those outdoors and exposed to direct solar radiation may experience temperatures that feel higher than the observed maximum temperature, depending on the humidity level. Similarly, maximum temperature may be felt more intensely in densely built-up urban areas than in less-developed regions due to urban heat island effect, he said.

The maximum temperature in Chennai may hover around 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday with humid weather. Light or moderate rainfall with thundershowers may occur during evening hours.