PANAJI
The Indian Meteorological Department on Monday issued a heat wave warning for Goa with temperatures soaring and Dabolim witnessing a record 38.2 degrees Celsius.
According to figures on the IMD website on Monday, the highest maximum temperature of 38.2°C was recorded at Dabolim while the lowest minimum temperature of 23.4°C was recorded at Panaji.
An IMD release said, “heat wave conditions are very likely at isolated places in Goa. The maximum temperature over the State is likely to remain around 4°C higher than normal, leading to the possibility of heat wave conditions”.
IMD heat wave warnings are issued when the temperature of any coastal station reaches 37 degrees and the departure from normal is between 4.5 to 6.4 degrees.
When both these conditions are met for a coastal station like Goa and when it persists for two days at more than one station then a heat wave is declared for that region.
Goa has a network of two departmental observatories at Panaji and Mormugao and eight outpost Rain Gauge stations at Mapusa, Pernem, Valpoi, Ponda, Margao, Canacona, Quepem and Sanguem.
They measure various meteorological parameters like temperature, relative humidity, pressure, wind speed, direction etc.
The heat wave is considered when the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C for Plains and at least 30°C for hilly regions.
If the normal maximum temperature of a station is less than or equal to 40°C, then an increase of 5°C to 6°C from the normal temperature is considered to be heat wave condition.
Further, an increase of 7°C or more from the normal temperature is considered a severe heat wave condition. Additionally, if the actual maximum temperature remains 45°C or more irrespective of normal maximum temperature, a heat wave is declared.
