Winter sets in early in State

Raichur coldest in 120 years

The nip is already in the air and winter seems to have arrived in Karnataka, much earlier than its usual onset each year. Cold wave conditions prevailed across some parts of the State on Friday, with Nittur in Bhalki taluk, Bidar district, experiencing below normal minimum temperature of 8.6 degree Celsius.

Nittur had recorded 11.1 degree Celsius on November 28, 1939.

Raichur shivered at 11.4 degree Celsius, the lowest minimum in the past 120 years. Cold wave conditions will prevail over some parts of interior Karnataka in the next two nights, the Indian Meteorological Department said.

In Chamarajnagar, the temperature dipped to 9.6 degree Celsius. The district had recorded a minimum temperature of 6.3 degree Celsius on December 26, 2011. The drop in temperature has worried turmeric growers, as it would render the crop vulnerable to pest attacks and bring down the yield.

The minimum temperature fell to 10 degree Celsius in Mysore on Thursday, but it went up to 10.8 degree Celsius on Friday. K Govindaraj, nodal officer at Organic Research and Farming Centre, Naganahalli, attributed the extreme weather condition to Cyclone Nilam. According to the weatherman, the cold wave condition may prevail till March.

Bangalore is expected to have clear skies in the next couple of days with mist or fog expected only in the early hours. “The minimum tempreature is expected to linger around 15 degree Celsius,” a Met official said.

On Friday, Bangalore recorded a minimum temperature of 14.5 degree Celsius and officials said this was in tune with the temperatures being recored in the last few years and there was nothing unusual about it.