Mercury dips in excessive ranges, Munnar awaits frost fall

By Express News Service
KOCHI: Unusual rain through the previous two weeks and a cyclonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea have led to a drop in evening temperature within the state’s excessive ranges. As rain subsided and sky cleared, chilly climate set in at Munnar on Sunday.

The hill station recorded an evening temperature of two levels Celsius on Sunday. The temperature dropped to 2 levels at Silent Valley and Chundavurrai, 3 levels at Sevenmallay and Upasi, 4 levels at Madupatty and 5 levels at Kanniamallay in Munnar on Sunday evening. Kannan devan Hill Plantation authorities predict a frost fall within the subsequent few days as temperature is about to drop beneath zero diploma.

“The surface soil moisture is unusually high due to the enhanced rainfall which led to high evapotranspiration. This leads to increased heat loss from the earth surface. The latent heat loss brings night temperature to unusually low levels which we are experiencing at high ranges now,” stated iMd former director S Sudevan. The temperature had touched zero diploma in Munnar on december 26 earlier than going as much as 12 attributable to cloudy climate. it was hovering round 8 levels final week. The temperature dropped to 10 levels at Peermade and 12 levels at Kumili.

Cyclonic circulation causes drop in evening temp in state

The mercury dropped to eight levels Celsius at Kolahalamedu in Wagamon. Punalur in Kollam district recorded 15 levels Celsius on January 13 and mercury step by step climbed to 18.5 levels on Sunday. The evening temperature had dropped beneath 20 diploma Celsius at numerous components of Thrissur, Idukki and Kottayam previously week. The uncommon rainfall through the previous week was attributable to a cyclonic circulation over southeast Arabian Sea.

The trough ran from this cyclonic circulation to Comorin space and prolonged as much as 1.5km above imply degree. The state has acquired 104.3mm rainfall from January 1 to 18 in opposition to the traditional rainfall of 5.5mm. “Now the sky has become clear and the temperature is set to drop due to loss of heat from earth surface during night hours. The winter condition will normally prevail till February end,” stated IMD scientist V Ok Mini