After a prolonged heatwave, Kerala is likely to experience thunderstorms from Wednesday

Kerala, which is experiencing a prolonged dry spell, is likely to witness thundershowers from Wednesday with the pre-monsoon wind discontinuity becoming active over south India.

A trough running in lower tropospheric levels from eastern Vidarbha to northern Tamil Nadu is likely to trigger thundershowers over the state from Wednesday, providing much-needed relief to residents affected by the rising mercury coupled with high humidity in the atmosphere.

Rain warning

As part of the gradually increasing rainfall activities, Padannakkad in Kasaragod received the highest rainfall of 9 cm in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Tuesday, followed by Vellarikkundu (4 cm) and Pilicode (3 cm) in Kasaragod. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a yellow warning for isolated heavy rainfall in Idukki and Malappuram.

The state has been in the grip of intense heat, heat waves and warm night conditions since the second half of April. The mercury rose to a record 41.8°C in Palakkad in the last week of April, about 5.5°C higher than the region’s normal temperature and just 0.1°C less than the all-time high of 41.9°C in the region. 2016, since 1901. Although temperatures in May dropped below 40°C in the state, temperatures are still high in many parts of the state.

39.6°C in Palakkad

Palakkad recorded the highest temperature of 39.6°C on Tuesday, about 4.3°C higher than the normal temperature. However, the situation is more complex in the coastal area of ​​Alappuzha, where the IMD has issued warnings of heat waves and hot nights after the mercury rose again. Kozhikode also experiences warm night conditions. The presence of cloud mass over these districts often slows down the process of heat escaping from the Earth’s surface at night, leading to a rise in night temperature. In all districts of the state, except Wayanad and Idukki, daytime temperatures are about 2-4°C above normal.

Looking for financial help

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan on Tuesday asked the state government to provide financial assistance to the kin of persons who died due to heat in the state. In a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he also demanded a special package for the agriculture sector, including the dairy sector, in view of the trail of destruction caused by the extreme heat. Farmers are in dire straits as crops have withered and production has declined. In the plantation sector, yields have fallen by 25-50%, he said.