PANAJI
The mercury rose to a record 37.2°C on Wednesday, extending a spell of unusually high temperatures that has kept daytime conditions above normal since Monday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the heat to persist for at least another three days.
Wednesday’s maximum was higher than Monday’s 36.6°C, which was already 5.1°C above normal, and Tuesday’s 36-37°C. The minimum remained between 24°C and 25°C, while relative humidity stood at 74 per cent.
According to IMD Goa’s updated bulletin, the heat remained intense by early evening, at 35.8°C with a feels-like reading of 44°C.
The IMD forecast a maximum of around 37°C even on Thursday, with the minimum near 25°C. Partly cloudy skies and early-morning haze are likely, while Friday’s maximum is expected to ease marginally to around 36°C, but the broader forecast offers little immediate relief.
“Maximum temperatures are likely to remain above normal for the next 3 days, followed by a gradual decrease thereafter,” the bulletin stated.
Dry weather is likely across the three districts of Goa on Thursday, with hot and humid conditions expected at isolated places during the late morning and afternoon.
The forecast further pointed to a possibility of localised thunderstorms from Friday. Light rain or thundershowers are likely over the ghats and adjoining areas of North Goa and Kushavati, accompanied at isolated places by lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph. Similar conditions are forecast for Saturday, particularly during the late afternoon and night.
The IMD bulletin has also warned of hot and humid weather over Konkan and Goa from October 14 to 16, and over coastal Karnataka on October 14-15.
