IMD issues hot, humid weather warning

Kochi: India meteorological department (IMD) issued a hot and humid warning for the state on Thursday.

A yellow-level warning for maximum temperatures has been issued and it is likely to be around 37C in Palakkad district and around 36C in Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod districts on Thursday. Hot and humid weather is very likely over these districts, except in hilly areas, due to high temperature and humidity.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 30-40kmph are very likely at one or two places over Kerala on Thursday and Friday.

Maximum temperatures crossed 36Cin Kozhikode, Punalur and Palakkad on Wednesday. In Kozhikode, there was a rise of nearly 2C above normal, and Punalur saw nearly 1C rise. Cial Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram city recorded 1C above normal. Cial Kochi recorded 35.5C while Thiruvananthapuram city recorded 34.7C.

IMD said that a trough runs from the cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan and the neighbourhood to the Gulf of Mannar across east Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, interior Karnataka, Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu. The upper air cyclonic circulation over the Gulf of Mannar and the neighbourhood at 0.9km above mean sea level has merged with the above trough. The upper air cyclonic circulation over southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining Tamil Nadu at 1.5km above mean sea level has become less marked.