Chennai: The sweltering months of April and May are past. The mercury peaked towards the end of April and in mid-May but, largely, temperatures have remained below the uncomfortable 40 degree Celsius mark in the city.

Only seven days in the past two months recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degree Celsius and above in Nungambakkam. It was hotter in Meenambakkam with the temperature reading 40 degrees and above on eleven days.

However, the city did not see extremes such as in May 2003, when 45 degree Celsius was recorded as the maximum. last few days of May were quite pleasant. Officials at the Regional Meteorological Centre said that the sea breeze set in earlier and there was a fair amount of cloud development on cooler days.

Clouds develop when hot air from land rises during summer and comes into contact with moist air, especially in the evening.

The next few days are likely to be less hot than in the past month.

The hottest days in 2006 till now were on April 30 and May 1, when temperatures soared to 43 degree Celsius in Meenambakkam and 42 degree Celsius in Nungambakkam.

On April 28 and 29, the maximum temperatures were 42 degree Celsius in Meenambakkam and 41 degree Celsius in Nungambakkam.

Temperatures dipped after the first week of May but soared again on May 22 when Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam recorded 41 degree celsius. The last week of May had overcast skies and the mercury hovered around 37 degree celsius.

Summer rain also delighted residents of the city on a couple of days in May. On May 26, Meenambakkam received 15 mm of rainfall and Nungambakkam 17 mm.

A light drizzle was experienced on May 18. This made May 19 very pleasant, with a maximum temperature of only 33 degree Celsius.

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