Cloud cover fails to beat the heat

CHENNAI: Denizens of Chennai woke up to the pleasant surprise of an overcast sky on Saturday morning. But as the day progressed, many realised that the clouds over their heads had little effect on the sweltering heat.Weatherman said while the clouds managed to bring down the maximum temperature by 3 degree Celsius, the fact that the sea breeze failed to set in by evening ensured that the prospect of a pleasant day was lost.While Nungambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 40.6 on Friday, it dropped to 38.6 degree Celsius on Saturday with relative humidity hovering at around 40 per cent. This was the first time in over nine days that the temperature had gone down below the 40 mark.According to Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Y E A Raj, the cloudy sky was owing to an “intense conversion” in the centre of Bay of Bengal. However, the clouds were not rain-bearing in nature and therefore the city recorded nil rainfall.Meanwhile, the reason for the clouds not having any profound effect on the heat was that the sea breeze failed to set in even after 5 pm.“This was the second day in a row that the sea breeze had failed. On Friday, it set in at around midnight and blew for two hours and that too was very weak,” he pointed out. The reason for the delay was a strong Westerly blowing over the land. Raj said while Saturday offered no rain, there was a chance of light precipitation on Sunday. Temperature though would remain normal.