Bengalureans brace up for a scorching summer

February has just begun and mercury is already on the rise. The City recorded a maximum temperature of 32.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. And the bad news is, it could touch 34 degrees Celsius this month.

Last year, around this time, the maximum temperature was around 27-28 degrees Celsius. Thus, this year, there is a five-degree rise in the temperatures, compared to last year.

According to Geeta Agnihotri, Director of the Indian Meteorological Department, Bengaluru, across the State, the temperatures in February first week is 3 to 4 degrees Celsius higher than the normal temperatures. The State has not experienced winter this year. Summer would be scorching with temperatures crossing 35 degrees Celsius. Reasons can be attributed to rainfall in November, increase in pollution levels, reduction of green cover, increased urbanisation, etc.

Prof J Srinivasan, Chairman, Divecha Centre for Climate Change, IISc, said the temperatures have been abov­e-no­rmal since January. Apart from urbanisation, Bengaluru temperatures this year, have also been affected by unusual and above-normal winter in North India. He said weather-wise Bengaluru was very interesting. Temperatures will be very high if there is no rainfall in March. Even a couple of showers would bring the mercury levels down. Though it rains in mid-March, temperatures during February-end and early March will be high. The cool breeze from City lakes are also missing since many of the water bodies have vanished.