Heatwave to scorch six Kerala districts; Temperature could rise up to 40 degree Celsius

Thiruvananthapuram: Several Kerala districts are expected to come under the spell of a heatwave in the coming days, according to the Met Department.

The maximum temperature in the six districts of Kollam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Thrissur, Kozhikode, and Kannur is likely to rise by two to three degrees Celsius on Sunday, they warned.

Such a rise could take the mercury levels up to 40 degree Celsius in more than one district.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said the six districts are likely to experience an above-normal temperature on March 12 and 13.

"There are chances that the maximum temperature is most likely to be above normal by two to three degrees Celsius in Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Kannur districts on March 12 and 13, 2022," K Santhosh, IMD Director, Thiruvananthapuram said.

He cited the drop of 33% in rain than the average rainfall and dry north-easterly wind as the reasons for the likely rise in temperature.

The IMD added that Thrissur district recorded the highest temperature on Friday at 38.6 degrees Celsius, followed by neighbouring Palakkad touching 38 degrees Celsius. In Kottayam, the mercury levels hit 37 degrees Celsius while in Thiruvananthapuram, it was 34.5 degrees Celsius.

The IMD also informed that there were chances of mild rain in the districts of Kottayam, Idukki, Kollam, and Pathanamthitta on March 15.

Several other Indian states, including Gujarat, Rajasthan and Odisha are also experencing severe heatwave conditions. The maximum temperature in the national capital settled at 31.2 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season's average, on Saturday.