Strong hailstorm hit many parts of Vellore town on Friday, recording 55 mm of rainfall at 5.30 p.m, the highest rainfall recorded in a day in the State this season.
Meteorologists at Vellore Observatory of India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that formation of cumulonimbus clouds, due to intense heat for several weeks, was the reason for the sudden hailstorm in the town. “Such hailstorms occur mainly inland as they are far away from sea breeze that eases soaring temperatures. Such clouds are sudden and cover only a small portion of area in terms of distance,” N.A. Nehru Raj, meteorologist ‘A’, Vellore Observatory, told The Hindu.
Vellore town and neighbouring areas like Gudiyatham, Katpadi, and Anaicut have been experiencing temperatures of over 37.7 degrees Celsius for the past few weeks. On Friday, the daily temperature of the district was recorded at 40.3 degrees Celsius by the Vellore Observatory at the Collectorate before a hailstorm hit the district, especially Vellore town.
