Kerala braces for warmer days as IMD predicts fewer summer rains

The temperature in the State has been on the rise since the beginning of March. Mercury levels have peaked, with temperatures crossing the 38℃ mark in places like Kannur and Kottayam, over the past couple of days. This, combined with high relative humidity in the air, is expected to push the heat index ( what the temperature feels like to the human body) further.

The upward trend will continue in the coming weeks, with maximum temperature expected to hover close to 40℃ in many places across north and central Kerala during the remaining half of March and April. With fewer summer rains forecast in the coming days, days are expected to get warmer.

Neetha K Gopal, Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Thiruvananthapuram, said summer has so far been moderate this year, with temperatures hovering within the long-period average limits with slight deviations. However, the transition towards peak summer has now started ahead of the spring equinox, which occurs around March 21, when the sun is positioned directly over the equator, and places near it receive very high solar radiation. Sun’s rays fall almost vertically on Kerala, heating the land surface swiftly and making the days hotter.

“Additionally, the possibility of summer rains is very remote in the coming weeks, with skies expected to remain clear in the absence of moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea. As a result, more sunlight will reach the ground and heat the land quickly during the day, while humidity in the lower levels will push the heat index up The heat will be harsher in areas where the temperature goes beyond 37°C, along with humidity levels of more than 60 per cent,” Ms Gopal said.

According to a statement issued by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority on Thursday, as many as eight stations in Kerala — Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, and Malappuram — recorded a high ultraviolet index in the last 24 hours, with a peak level of 8, placing them under the orange alert category. The agency also advised people to avoid prolonged direct exposure to sunlight during peak hours of the day to prevent heat-related illnesses and skin damage. The penetration of UV rays would be high during summer, especially in the absence of sufficient cloud cover.