Polling day likely to be hot and humid

Kochi: Polling day in the state is likely to be hot and humid as India meteorological department (IMD) has issued a warning of a 2-3Celcius rise in maximum temperatures on Thursday.IMD said maximum temperatures are very likely to be around 38C at isolated places in Palakkad. Kollam, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are likely to be around 37C, while Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur are expected to be around 36C on Thursday. Hot and humid weather is very likely to prevail over these districts except in hilly areas.Dry weather prevailed and high temperatures were recorded across the state on Wednesday. Thiruvananthapuram city saw a 3.2C rise above normal from 33.9C to 37.1C, while Kottayam recorded a 2.3C rise at 36.5C. Palakkad recorded the highest of 38.4C, with a 1.5C rise. Cial Kochi and Punalur had a 1.7C rise. Vellanikkara was at 36.3C, while Kannur airport and Thiruvananthapuram airport had 35.9C and 35C, respectively.A thunderstorm accompanied by lightning is very likely at one or two places over the state till Saturday.A north-south trough runs from the cyclonic circulation over Chhattisgarh to the Gulf of Mannar across Telangana, Rayalaseema and interior Tamil Nadu at 0.9km above mean sea level. The trough/wind discontinuity from Gangetic West Bengal to the Gulf of Mannar has merged with the above trough. The upper air cyclonic circulation over Odisha and neighbourhood has become less marked.