Hubballi city receives heavy rain on Friday evening.
Credit: DH Photo
Dharwad: Within a month, the mercury level in some parts of Dharwad district crossed 41 degrees Celsius when pre-monsoon showers were yet to pick up. The summer rains have been satisfactory in recent days of this moth, while the average maximum temperature in the district has been below 38 degrees Celsius of late.
Actual temperature is unlikely to breach 40 degrees Celsius mark again this season as good pre-monsoon showers are expected to continue. After the temperature continuously rose in March, the summer has not been so harsh in last couple of weeks mainly due to occasional rains. Though afternoon temperature is bringing discomfort due to high humidity, scattered rains are bringing sooth especially in evening hours in recent days. This situation is expected to continue throughout the remaining stretch of this summer.
Pre-monsoon cumulative rainfall in the district so far (March 1 to April 25) has been 55.2 mm, which is 33% more than the normal rainfall of 41.5 mm. In fact, 41.7 mm rainfall has been received in April itself, according to the data compiled by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).
Taluk-wise, cumulative pre-monsoon showers so far have been highest in Alnavar, and least in Hubballi City. The rainfall has been 88 mm (+164%) in Alnavar taluk, 69.7 mm (+56%) in Kalghatgi, 68.4 mm (+41%) in Dharwad, 55 mm (+45%) in Annigeri, 51.9 mm (+26%) in Hubballi Rural, 49.9 mm (+22%) in Kundgol, 33.8 mm (-21%) in Navalgund, and 16.3 mm (-64%) in Hubballi City.
Temperature
In 24 hours that ended on Thursday (April 25) morning, the average maximum temperature recorded in the district was 36.5 degrees Celsius, and minimum was 23.6 degrees Celsius. The average maximum temperature crossed 38 degrees Celsius only once in last one week.
According to agrometeorologsit R H Patil, temperature in the district is not expected to cross 40 degrees Celsius again during this summer, as pre-monsoon rainfall has been excess and it is predicted to continue in the same manner.
“Though temperature rises after the clouds get cleared after the rains, this summer is not going to be so extreme, as pre-monsoon rain prediction is good and we are getting rains at regular intervals. Forest patches getting greener due to rains would also bring down the temperature. Mercury level may touch 40 degrees Celsius only if it does not rain for eight to 10 days. More clouds would start coming by mid-May,” he said.
Good pre-monsoon showers would help to prepare the fields for kharif sowing. If heavy winds and hailstorms come, mango crop may get damaged, Dr Patil added.