Gear up for rise in mercury

Chennai: Chennaites will have to be prepared for that extra heat during the coming week as temperatures are likely to go up by 2 to 3 degrees in the city as predicted by the regional meteorological department and weather bloggers.

According to T. Gokul, a Kea weather blogger, for the next three or four days no rainfall is expected. “Starting from today till March 23, the temperature is going to rise by 2 to 3 degrees and it will be above normal,” he said. He added that weather would be hot and dry.

Met department officials said the entire State would witness above normal temperature. Interior North and North coastal areas like Vellore, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri will witness temperatures soaring by 3-4 degrees Celsius. “If 33 degree is average then it will increase to 36 degree for the next one week,” said an official. The relative humidity in Chennai will be 50-60 percent. In Ooty, temperatures may rise to 26 degree Celsius from 22.

For Coimbatore, the weather office said sky condition will be partly cloudy. Light rain likely in some Areas with the maximum and minimum temperature to be around 39 and 25 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, the forest department has begun its summer management schedule and has ordered the field officers of all tiger reserves to ensure that there is no straying of wild animals from all four tiger reserves in to the nearby villages along Western Ghats.

“With good rains during last November and December, reservoirs and water holes inside core forests of TN are not dry this season and this will reduce the straying of elephants, gaur and big cats in search of water,” a forest ranger said adding that Kodaikannal is facing tough situation due to forest fires.