Wednesday rain highest in September in 20 years

Chennai and surrounding suburbs cooled down by the sudden spell. Anna University registered 67 mm between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm. The second highest per hour rain was at Chembarambakkam and Mailam, recording 50 mm and 52 mm for the same period, respectively, while Puzhal received only 15 mm. “This September, Chennai till date received 296 mm, making it one of the wettest in the last 20 years, said weather blogger Pradeep John. 

He said, “Chennai’s highest monthly rain in September was 314.50 mm in 1996 which was the highest in 200 years, followed by the same month getting 286 mm in 2011. And if rain continues on Thursday night too, there is a good chance of beating the 200 year record.”

Another weather blogger K. Srikant accepted that “widespread rain was received in South Chennai with Nungambakkam and Meenambakkam receiving 77mm and 82 mm, respectively.” As the wet spell occurred at night and as it was more like a steady drizzle, “it did not evoke fear among residents.” he added. 

The continued rain resulted in many city localities going without power. While areas like Perambur, Purasaiwalkam and Vysasarapdi went without power for upto 90 minutes, areas on the outskirts like Tambaram, Mudichur and Chitlapakkam had electricity restored only at 7 am on Thursday. 

TNEB officials said “thunder and lightning resulted in power being cut off and it was restored only in the morning as no worker would climb electricity poles during rain.”