High Heat: Mercury Levels Touch 38.7 Degrees In Anantapur
The Anantapur Urban weather point recorded 37.7 degrees and most of the areas in Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa touched 37 degrees: Reports
ANANTAPUR: An abnormal rise of mercury levels crossing 38.7 degrees in the peak rainy season of September has destabilized life in Rayalaseema region.
On Sunday, a temperature of 38.7 degree Celsius was recorded at Hussainpura in Tadipatri mandal followed by 38.5 degrees at 440 KV sub-station point in Gooty mandal in Anantapur district, resembling a hot summer.
The Anantapur Urban weather point recorded 37.7 degrees and most of the areas in Anantapur, Kurnool and Kadapa touched 37 degrees.
The adverse impact of El Nino on Rayalaseema region saw most of kharif crops -- groundnut, red gram and cotton -- withering in more than 14 lakh hectares, incurring huge losses to farmers.
The temperature was almost 3-5 degrees in mid-August and this high level continued in September. Normally, Rayalaseema had maximum temperature at below 32 degrees in September because of normal to heavy rainfall through the South West Monsoon season, weather scientist Narayana Swamy from Rekulakinta observed.
With rainfall activity weakening over parts of the region, temperatures are likely to remain above normal at times during September, particularly during prolonged dry spells. The developing El Niño phenomenon –wherein water boils excessively in sea -- is also emerging as an important climate factor influencing temperature and rainfall patterns this year.
The World Meteorological Organisation has said El Niño is firmly established and would strengthen further, with such a situation likely to persist through the Sept-Nov period. The strengthening El Niño would bring significant shifts in rainfall and global temperature patterns.
Recent weather data from IMD shows subdued rainfall activity over AP. During August 27-Sept 2, the state recorded only 3.6mm of rainfall against the normal 31.9mm, a deficiency of 89 per cent.
The major crop in the kharif season, groundnut, withered fully and there’s no chance even of getting fodder for animals. In addition, farmers, who rested their hopes on red gram, are disheartened and are clearing the crop from fields due to rain-deficit. The cotton crop in black soils was also badly hit due to stunted growth.
Scientist Narayana Swamy observed the soil layers are dried up in most parts of the region that mainly depends on rain to get ground water recharge, and less on the Tungabhadra and HNSS. Lower wind speeds can further aggravate the situation by reducing the dispersal of accumulated heat.
In addition, as the southwest monsoon gradually weakens towards the latter part of the season, intermittent breaks in rainfall can create hotter and drier conditions.