Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 7: As the intensity of heat continues to rise in Dakshina Kannada district, humidity levels are also increasing alongside, making conditions more uncomfortable. Over the past week, temperatures have been recorded between 35 and 38 degrees Celsius, posing a challenge to daily life. A significant change in the low-pressure systems forming over the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean is expected to determine the onset of summer showers and the monsoon.
More than the heat, the rising humidity is causing discomfort, with increased evaporation of moisture adding to the sultry conditions. Even if temperatures drop slightly, humidity levels are continuing to rise steadily, creating a new pattern this season.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it is usually common to witness summer showers along with pre-monsoon rains during some days in May. However, this time, there are indications of light rainfall in a few parts of the district on May 8 and 9. IMD scientists have stated that the heat is likely to persist for the next few days.
If a low-pressure system likely to form in the Bay of Bengal in the next couple of days moves towards the northern region, and if a strong cyclone forming near the equatorial Indian Ocean moves towards the Arabian Sea, the onset of the monsoon may be delayed. However, if the intensity of low-pressure systems increases towards the west, there is a possibility of the monsoon reaching the coastal region between May 20 and 25. Rainfall in May is expected to remain limited, and only if the monsoon becomes active will the month see significant rainfall.
Unseasonal rains witnessed across various parts of the district during March and April this year have contributed to the delay in the arrival of the monsoon. The moisture generated during these months has moved towards other parts of the state, leading to intermittent rainfall in several regions. Additionally, rainfall has not been uniform across the coastal belt. While areas like Sullia and Subrahmanya received rain, other regions remained largely dry.
“Pre-monsoon rain indicators should have been visible by now. However, it depends on how strong or weak the low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal will be. Summer rains have not occurred in the expected quantity,” said an IMD scientist.