Rare unseasonal June rain hits Chennai for the 3rd time in 200 years, throwing life out of gear

He added that this was just the third time in the 200-year record-keeping of weather that Chennai had received this much rain in a single day. The previous two instances were in 1991 and 1996.

1991, 1996 and now 2023. The years when 150 mm were recorded in KTC in the last 200 years. No other years we have got such rains.

June heavy rains are very very very rare. Only 3rd time Schools are close in June for rains.

1996 will be always special and never to be broken. pic.twitter.com/3psdCIq1wR

— Tamil Nadu Weatherman (@praddy06) June 19, 2023

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Effects of the rain

Due to the successive spells of unexpected rains in Chennai on Monday, traffic was immensely affected in several parts of the city. Some of these included Egmore, Valluvar Kottam, Kodambakkam, and OMR.

Vehicles were caught in nightmare jams at the Gandhi Irwin Bridge, near co-optex and the Ripon Building in Egmore.

The unusual spell of heavy rain also led to widespread waterlogging in many areas due to which the Chennai district administration announced a holiday for schools. Several underpasses, roads and airport runways were inundated due to which flights were diverted.

Neighbouring districts — Chengalpattu, Vellore, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, and Ranipet — also declared a holiday for school children due to the rain that affected several parts of these districts.

However, supplementary exams for 12th-grade students were held as scheduled, announced the director of the government Examination Directorate, S Sethurama Varma.

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June rain for 3rd time in 200 years

As per John, parts of Chennai received heavy rainfall over three days in 1996 peaking at nearly 350 mm on one of the days while in 1991 parts of the city saw over 180 mm rainfall on a single day.

“1991, 1996 and now 2023. The years when 150 mm were recorded in KTC in the last 200 years. No other years we have got such rains. June heavy rains are very very very rare. Only 3rd time Schools are close in June for rains.
1996 will be always special and never to be broken and a 1000 year event. All three, I have witnessed it. In 1996 we got holiday for schools for almost a week,” Independent weather expert Pradeep John wrote in his social media post.

This is today 150+ mm event in Chennai. Rare indeed, very very rare indeed in June. pic.twitter.com/ZGFhA4tvto

— Tamil Nadu Weatherman (@praddy06) June 19, 2023

Referring to the heatwaves in the KTC (Kanchipuram, Tiruvallur and Chennai) region over the past few months, he said “after historic heatwaves, nature compensates with such rains”.

Another Chennai-based independent weather expert and friend of John, Venkatesh Sreenivasan, recalled that the normal rainfall in the month of June is usually between 50 and 60 mm.

“Usually the monsoon her comes in November and December. However, this time it is raining due to the Upper Air Circulation (UAC) over the Bay of Bengal (BOB) due to which clouds are moving from sea to land (Tamil Nadu Coastal Areas). That’s why we have seen heavy rain across the 100 km stretch from Tamil Nadu to Southern Andhra Pradesh. After the landfall, entire monsoon got weak,” Venkatesh explained to South First.

Noting how the GCC staff worked hard throughout the day, he said the rains might continue for another 24 hours after which the rainfall will start reducing.

People who are travelling by cars and two-wheelers should prepare early and try using more public transport.

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