Cold and rains leave, Kerala to heat up
With winter and monsoon leaving the state, Kerala is rapidly transitioning to summer conditions. According to a weather bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday, conditions are likely to change for the withdrawal of northeast monsoon rains over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, Mahe, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Rayalaseema and south interior Karnataka in the next 48 hours.
Withdrawing rains will increase temperatures
The withdrawal of northeast monsoon will lead to withdrawal of rains in Kerala, and isolated rains were experienced in the Ghats and some places in the plains of Kerala amid winter-like conditions. The cessation of rains will lead to an increase in maximum temperatures during the day. The relatively cool winter-like temperatures in the morning will quickly change to very hot conditions during the day.
Severe heat in February
The average temperature in various parts of the state was at or above normal in January. December saw below-normal temperatures in most parts of the state. After a cold December, there were isolated showers. Now that the rains have stopped, the remaining days of January will be slightly warmer during the day. Then, February will be warmer.
According to the IMD, the northeast monsoon will end in Kerala on December 31 and the rainfall received in January will be considered winter. However, this time the season has been extended till the third week of January. As a cyclonic circulation formed in the Bay of Bengal moved towards the east coast of Sri Lanka, it received heavy rains and strong winds between January 7 and 11. This led to an unexpected rainfall in southern peninsular India. This also led to the mercury returning to normal in Kerala in January after below-normal temperatures in December.