Thiruvananthapuram: It's indeed getting too warm this summer. The number of districts recording high temperatures have increased, with Thrissur, Kottayam and Alappuzha joining the 'hot' group which had listed only Kollam and Palakkad till now.
Kottayam recorded 37 degrees Celsius on Friday, an increase of 2.5 degrees above the average. Alappuzha was at 36, up by 2.7 degrees above the average. And at night, Alappuzha was a degree above the average.
Palakkad on Friday remained at 36 degrees during the day, but night was warmer than the normal. While 36 was 0.3 degrees less than normal, the night temperature hit 25, higher by 1.1 degrees than the average.
In Thrissur, Vellanikkara area recorded the highest temperature on Friday, at 38 degrees. Punalur in Kollam district measured 37 degrees during the day.
The weather bureau had earlier warned that the temperature will rise unusually high up to March 13 in the northern districts.
Weather experts see the possibility of rain in the southern districts by mid-March. However, the state will have to wait until mid-April for widespread summer rains.
Heatwave fears rise
Experts see the possibility of another heatwave in Kerala, now that the heat has risen unusually high in the first week of March itself. A heatwave is declared under three conditions. One, when the heat measures beyond 40 degrees in weather stations. Two, when the average temperature remains up by four degrees. Three, when night temperature soars three degrees above the average.
A heatwave was declared for the first time in Kerala in April 2016.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that the temperature would rise by 0.5 degrees in Kerala this year. It rose by 2.5 in Kottayam and Alappuzha on Friday.
People are directed to avoid direct sunlight between 11 am and 3 pm, to wear light-colored, loose-fitting cotton dresses; to drink more water and to take bath twice a day.
