City set for searing summer

City set for searing summer

The maximum temperature during April and May is expected to be 39 degree Celsius

Bosky Khanna. Bangalore
Life in Bangalore is sure to get a cauldron-like air in a few days, with the summer temperatures expected to touch 390 Celsius in April and May.
In fact, the city has already getting a taste of what is in store the next summer, with maximum temperatures hovering around 310 Celsius these days.
January is considered winter according to the seasonal calendar of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). And the lowest minimum temperature during the month dipped to 9.20 Celsius.
The highest maximum temperature is three degrees above the normal for January, IMD, Bangalore director-in-charge A Muthachami told DNA.
The maximum temperatures in May, when summer peaks, during the last three years has been hovering around 370 Celsius.
Muthachami, however, added that the weather fluctuations and soaring temperatures are not an uncommon phenomenon and are controlled by local and global factors, he added.
Meteorological officials attributed the weather fluctuations to changing lifestyle, rapid urbanization and increasing felling of trees. The global factors contributing to change in weather conditions are increasing wind speed, change in wind direction and cyclonic storms in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. The local factors are clear sky, change in wind's direction and change in vegetation.
Muthachami said, "Towards the end of January and beginning of February, which are winter months, the temperature will gradually start increasing. Last year, the City experienced unusual rainfall and thunder showers during February and March due to which people did not feel the heat. But this year, the global and local features are not favourable for any such weather variations. Thus Bangaloreans will experience the prickly heat during the hot and dry summer season.''
In 2008, Bangalore had recorded a maximum of 31.20 Celsius on January 28 and the lowest minimum of 17.60 Celsius on January 17. On January 25 this year, the minimum temperature was 9.20 Celsius and on January 24, the month's maximum of 310 Celsius was recorded.
Muthachami said there are no specific reasons for the current extremes. Cool winds blowing from north India are reducing the minimum temperatures, while the clear sky is increasing the maximum temperature.