Mokokchung, 21 April (MTNews): Data from the India Meteorological Department shows that parts of northeast India are recording maximum temperatures near their historical highs for the month.

 

According to IMD, long heat spells are unusual in the region which usually records frequent thunderstorm activity in April and May. However this year, IMD noted that there have been fewer thunderstorms.

 

“There is no heat wave condition in the Northeast but the maximums are very high and they are being experienced continuously for the past few days. Normally, northeast India gets frequent thunderstorm activity during this time of the year so the temperature doesn’t spike. But this time the thunderstorm activity is less and soil is dry which is also leading to a steep rise in temperatures,” M Mohapatra, director general, IMD said.

 

Meanwhile, Mahesh Palawat, vice president, climate and meteorology, Skymet Weather observed that extremely high temperatures are being observed over the Northeast.

 

“It’s very rare for these regions to record heat waves or extremely high temperature conditions. Some areas in the plains in this region do record high temperatures during some years but this year it is prolonged and more importantly the region has not received adequate rainfall so the land surface is very warm and dry. The region may start recording some pre-monsoon showers in a couple of days,” Palwat continued.

 

Meanwhile, Nagaland recorded maximum temperature above normal by 3 to 5°C and minimum temperature above normal by 1.6°C to 3°C, according to Joint Director of Soil & Water Conservation & State Nodal Officer for Meteorology, Rongsenlemzung.

 

According to Rongsenlemzung, during the last five days as recorded by the department, the state recorded an average maximum temperature of 28.4°C while minimum temperature hovered at 17.5°C and relative humidity at 60.6% and total rainfall of 33.8mm.

 

The highest temperature of 37°C was reported at Jalukie station and the lowest minimum temperature of 11.6°C was reported at Shamator station. He informed that according to the National Weather Forecasting Centre, Nagaland will experience sturdy showers accompanied with thunderstorm and lightning strikes with gusty wind speeds up to 30- 40kmph in the next few days.

 

According to IMD, Tripura’s capital Agartala recorded maximum temperatures in the range of 38 to 39.3°C from April 15 to 19. The record for Agartala is 41.5°C recorded on April 30, 1960.

 

Agartala’s mean daily temperature for April is 33.3°C.

 

Shillong in Meghalaya recorded maximum temperatures in the range of 27°C to 29.1°C. The record for Shillong is 30.2°C, recorded on April 5, 1973 and the mean daily temperature for Shillong in April (CHECK) is only 23.4°C. Imphal in Manipur recorded maximum temperatures in the range of 32.8°C to 38°C. The highest temperature recorded in Imphal is 36.1°C, on April 9, 1999. Imphal’s daily maximum mean temperature is only 29°C as per IMD’s Climate Data Portal.

 

It reported that Heat Wave conditions have been prevailing in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal for the past nine days, coastal Andhra Pradesh for seven days, Bihar for six days and Odisha for four days.

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