Heat warning issued for Kerala

Kochi: With summer in full swing, IMD has forecast maximum temperatures in the range of 34-37°C in the peninsular region while Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a heat warning for the state. On Tuesday, Palakkad recorded the highest temperature in the state at 36°, while Vellanikkara and Kozhikode recorded 35.8°. Punalur, Kannur Airport, Cial Kochi and Kottayam also recorded around 35°. Punalur recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 21.5°. On the other hand, minimum temperature rose appreciably in Kollam. Meanwhile, Thiruvananthapuram city recorded the highest relative humidity of 84%, while Punalur and Kannur recorded 72%, increasing the heat index in these places. KSDMA warned people to stay away from direct exposure to the sun during peak hours. It said the UV (ultraviolet) index was around 6-7 in many places, including Kottarakkara, Konni, Chengannur, Chenganassery, Munnar, Kalamassery, Ollur, Thrithala, Ponnani, Beypore and Mananthavady. IMD said rain or thundershowers are likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala. The cyclonic circulation over the Comorin area and adjoining Maldives area now lay over Gulf of Mannar. The north-south trough/wind discontinuity from northwest Tamil Nadu to Marathwada now ran from the cyclonic circulation over Gulf of Mannar and neighbourhood to Marathwada across Tamil Nadu and interior Karnataka at 0.9km above mean sea level. The cyclonic circulation over central parts of south Bay of Bengal and adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean persisted.