3-day heatwave predicted in coastal Karnataka

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: India Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared heatwave conditions for the coastal Karnataka districts of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The weather department cited a relative increase in humidity (40 to 50 per cent), the maximum air temperature might be in the range of 37 to 39 degrees Celsius in parts of coastal Karnataka in these three days. IMD has advised people to avoid exposure to direct sunlight between noon and 3 pm.

They have also recommended people, especially manual labourers, to keep themselves hydrated and cover their heads. This warning comes in the backdrop of the weather department on Monday declaring that Honnavar town in Uttara Kannada district registered the maximum temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius, the highest in Karnataka for February in 26 years and the second highest all-time.

In February 1999, Honnavar had recorded the maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees, which is the highest mark ever registered in Karnataka for the month, IMD had confirmed. The weather department has been recording temperatures since 1901. Therefore, the 38.5 degrees mark registered in Honnavar on Monday is the second highest temperature recorded in the state in 124 years.