Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 17: December used to be the month when the people used to shiver due to chilly weather. People found it hard to get up early because of the chill, and even after getting up, avoided going out for the fear of the shivering cold. However, in recent years, the entire winter season passes without making the people feel its chilly presence. For example, already three winter months have passed but the people have not experienced the extreme cold associated with this season.

On two to three days of October this year, the people went through somewhat extreme cold conditions. In the city there was no chilly weather except that once the minimum temperature reached 19 degree Celsius. In December, the minimum temperature has not gone below 22 degrees. Perhaps because of the cyclone, rain and movement of clouds, the minimum temperature this time was 21.1 degree Celsius. However, experts predict chances of chilly weather from mid-December to mid-January.

Whenever the weather during winter is not cool enough, it affects paddy harvest as the fields retain moisture. Because of strong sunshine this time, the moisture is evaporating. Farmers say that even cashew, mango and jackfruit trees flowering gets delayed if the temperature remains high.

This time however, northeast monsoon was better than the previous year with 36 percent more rainfall. Sunil Gavaskar, scientist of Karnataka State National Disaster Monitoring Centre, expects clear skies, dew and lower temperature from now on.