Chennai, June 3 (Reporter) With the mercury level recording past the 100 Deg F mark for the couple of days after a brief lull, heavy rains lashed Chennai city and its suburbs on Tuesday night, providing the much needed relief to the people of this teeming megapolis. Though there was no major system formation over the bay, Met office attributed the sudden rains to convective activity due to the searing heat. As the people reeled under intense heat wave with high humidity level compounding their woes, the rains were a welcome sign, bringing smiles on their faces. Those returning home from office, were affected to some extent as the sudden rains caught them unawares. The rains were quite heavy in the city, while it was accompanied by gusty winds in suburban areas, and water logging was reported in some localities, resulting in minor traffic snarls. The rains, which was accompanied by thunder at time, lasted nearly an hour. The city and suburbs got respite from the scorching heat wave due to moderate rains last week, triggered by a system in the bay. As the system weakened, heat wave returned to haunt the people of the city and suburbs though the peak summer period ended on May 29. Met office the rains are expected to continue in spells for the next couple of hours in Chennai and the neighbouring districts of Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur and in Salem, and Coimbatore coming under the Western region and other districts. Light to moderate rain will also occur in Northern and North interior districts like Ranipet, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Erode, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Delta districts of Thanjavur and Pudukottai and in the southern districts, including Tenkasi. More than seven districts, including the Nungambakkam observatory in the city and the suburban Meenambakkam observatory, recorded temperatures in excess of 100 Deg F today also and the rains provided the much needed relief to the people ...////...