Extreme heat in Kerala to continue till end of April

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: According to the meteorological department, the scorching heat in the state will continue till the end of this month. Palakkad has been recording 40 degrees Celsius for three days. Punalu recorded 38 degrees Celsius with Thrissur and Kannur recording 37. It can also go further high in the coming days.

This time it feels two to three degrees more than the normal summer season. Along with extreme heat, the 'kallakkadal' (swell waves) phenomenon is also recurring. At Choottadu Beach in Kannur's Madayi, the sea advanced by 25 meters yesterday. The Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) said that there is a possibility of waves with heights up to 0.5 to 1.5 meters along the Kerala coast for two days. As rough seas are likely to intensify, people in danger zones should move to safer areas as per the instructions of the authorities.

More rain in May

It is estimated that the summer rains will be active by the second week of May. It is also likely to be higher than average. Southern districts are likely to receive more rains. Last summer rainfall was 34 percent less. Only 236.4 mm of rain was received where 359.1 mm of rain should have been received. Last year was the summer with third least rainfall in the last 25 years. The lowest in recent times was in 2019 - 169.6 mm. Summer rainfall in 2013 was also low - 216.4 mm. Meanwhile, record rainfall was received in 2004 - 766 mm.