Thiruvananthapuram: Heat wave conditions continue to persist despite official forecast of widespread rains across the state from May 4. Nonetheless, there has been a marginal decline in maximum temperatures with Palakkad recording 40.8 degree Celsius after maximum temperatures nearly grazed 41 degrees for five consecutive days. India Meteorological Department now forecasts widespread rains for three days across the state from May 5. It has also issued a “heavy rainfall’ warning in the state during May 6 and 7.
As has been the pattern this summer, it is the north, northeastern and coastal regions of the state that has borne the brunt of the heat on Wednesday, too. Palakkad district, though the heat has come down a wee bit, continues to be the hottest place along with Wayanad. Kozhikode, Kannur and Alappuzha, too, suffer from intense heat conditions.
Rainfall occurred at one or two places in the state. The chief amounts of rainfall recorded are: Kuppady (Wayanad district) 2 cm; Kannur, Ambalavayal (Wayanad district) Munnar (Idukki district) and Thiruvananthapuram 1 cm. There has been no large change in maximum temperature over the state during the past 24 hours. However it was “appreciably above normal” in Alappuzha, Kannur, Kozhikode and Palakkad districts, “above normal” in Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts.
