THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Palakkad district recorded the highest temperature of the year in the state- 40 degrees Celsius on Friday. For the first time since 2019, March has touched 40 degrees Celsius. Palakkad recorded 40 degree Celsius heat in the first week of April last year. If the heat continues like this, the temperature will cross 40 degrees. Water scarcity will also worsen.

In March, the temperature usually rises between 36 to 38 degrees. But this time till March 29, Palakkad and Kollam districts recorded temperatures up to 39 degrees. The El Nino phenomenon was more active than last year, which caused the extreme heat.

• The highest heat was recorded in Palakkad (41.9 degrees) in 2016
• This time the highest heat was recorded in the country-Akola, Maharashtra (41 degrees)

69% less rain

There is 69% less rainfall in the month of March so far. 10.1 mm of rain was received instead of 32.4 mm of rain.

There was no rain in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur and Wayanad.

Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam received better rain.

The remaining eight districts have not received even average rainfall.