This summer may not be severe, says Met dept

The winter this time was chilly and the City experienced cold waves, too. But the upcoming summer will not be severe and intense, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials.

B Puttanna, director of IMD-Bengaluru, said the monthly average values were increasing by two degrees Celsius. “Looking at the data of the previous decade, we can say that this year, a normal summer is expected,” he observed. 

Though the IMD officially does not issue a long-term forecast for summers, as in the case of monsoon, an analysis of data shows that summer will not be severe this year. Temperatures will not touch 38-40 degrees Celsius. But an increase by one to two degrees Celsius in temperature this year, compared to last year, will not make much of a difference and it is a normal phenomenon, he said.

The cold wave condition will have no impact on the summer. This winter, Bengaluru experienced a cold wave condition during December and January. But, according to Puttanna, this will not influence the summer heat. Presently (from January end to starting of February), Bengaluru is experiencing hot days and cold nights. This is because of no clouding and mist formation. February is winter as well as a transition month. 

Temperature will increase gradually in the forthcoming days as summer will be setting in. There are no conditions of cloud formation in the forthcoming days, too, to dip temperatures, he said.

The City, on Tuesday, experienced a maximum temperature of 27.7 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 15 degrees Celsius. The normal maximum and minimum are 29 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius.

Puttanna said that south interior Karnataka will not experience any heat wave condition, which is normal in the North Karnataka region. Last year, there was no heat wave condition in the northern region, but it is expected this year. Heat wave condition is a record-breaking temperature condition when the temperature is five-six degrees Celsius above normal for at least three days in a row. 

Doctors opine that since February is a transition month, people are more prone to contacting viral infections such as cold, cough and fever. 

Dr B G Tilak, medical superintendent at Sanjay Gandhi Hospital, said the number of children and adults suffering from bronchitis, allergies and viral infections has increased. Also, the possibility of swine flu cannot be ruled out in many cases, he added.