Kerala: Met dept sounds alert over high temperature

Some areas in Palakkad and Kollam districts on Sunday recorded above 39 degree C, three degree higher than usual temperature and experts said heat wave condition will continue for at least a week

Many parts of Kerala have been going through unusual heat in last couple of days and weathermen have warned that the temperature will go up two to three degree Celsius above normal in some areas and asked people to take enough precautions.

Since Kerala is a coastal state, humidity is also quite high making life miserable for daily wage earners and others. (HT Archives)

Some areas in Palakkad and Kollam districts on Sunday recorded above 39 degree C, three degree higher than usual temperature and experts said heat wave condition will continue for at least a week. Since Kerala is a coastal state, humidity is also quite high making life miserable for daily wage earners and others.

“Dry north-easterly wind is main reason for high temperature. And the second spell of monsoon was also deficit in the state. In some districts like Kollam, Kottayam, Alapuzhaand Kozhikode districts temperature is likely go up 2 to 3 degree C,” said IMD regional centre director K Santhosh. He said summer will peak in the state between March 20 and April 10.

As temperatures goes up, many areas have started complaining about drinking water shortage and dipping water table. The state government has already announced steps to regulate duty hours for daily wage earners and farmers between 11 am and 3 pm. Constructions sites have also been advised to change duty hours to in tune with the changing climate. Four sun stroke cases have been reported from the state so far, said officials of the Kerala Disaster Management Authority.

Though the IMD predicted summer shower in some areas in last two days, it evaded most parts of the state. Usually in March second week average temperature is 36 degree C but this time it went up to 39 degree in some areas giving looming threat of long summer days.

“The ultra violet index is likely to increase in the state in coming days. If there is not much cloud cover rise in temperature and relative humidity may trouble a number of areas. In urban areas temperature will be quite high as the heat radiated by concrete structures, glass covering and tiles pavements will soar,” said S Abhilash, director of the department of the Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research in Cochin University.

Farmers are also dejected at the early onset of summer. They had suffered heavy losses in last three years due to floods and landslides. Cash crops were also hit badly as hilly areas witnessed torrential rains. Spices like cardamom and pepper were the worst-hit, farmers said. Kerala produces some of the best pepper variety in the world and north Kerala district Wayanad is known for it.