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Kerala sees high temperatures as an unusually early summer sets in
Some areas in Palakkad and Kollam districts on Sunday recorded above 39 degrees Celsius, three degrees higher than the usual temperature while experts said heat wave conditions will continue for at least a week.
Many parts of Kerala have been witnessing unusual heat in the 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 precautions.
Some areas in Palakkad and Kollam districts on Sunday recorded above 39 degrees Celsius, three degrees higher than the usual temperature while experts said heat wave conditions will continue for at least a week. Since Kerala is a coastal state, the humidity is also quite high making life difficult for daily wage earners and others.
“A dry north-easterly wind is the main reason for the high temperature. And the second spell of monsoon was also in deficit in the state. In some districts like Kollam, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Kozhikode districts, temperature is likely go up 2 to 3 degrees c,” said IMD regional centre director K Santhosh. He said the summer season 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 a 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 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 the last two days it evaded most parts of the state. Usually in March second week, the average temperature is 36 degrees Celsius but this time it went up to 39 degrees Celsius in some areas as a precursor 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, the temperature will be quite high as the heat radiated by concrete structures, glass covering and tiled 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 suffered heavy losses in the 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.
