Bengaluru sweats, temp up by 50c

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Bengaluru: Suddenly, the nip in the air has gone in Bengaluru with the temperature going up and city experiencing summer-like condition over the last three days.
Meteorologists attributed the sudden 5 degrees Celsius rise in temperature to northern movement of the Sun. But, they said, it is still above normal for January. The city's maximum temperature has been around 31-32 degrees Celsius.
Met Department officials said a high-pressure cold belt has been created in North Asia, comprising Bhutan, Jammu and Kashmir and surrounding areas. If cold high wind blows from the region to the South, the temperature could go down, but it is a remote possibility, they said. The city will continue to experience hot conditions over the next few days, they said.
At 32oC, Bengaluru faces January heat
Bengaluru: Suddenly, the nip in the air has gone with the temperature going up and Bengaluru experiencing summer-like conditions over the past three days.
Meteorologists attributed the sudden 5 degrees Celsius rise in temperature to the northern movement of the Sun. But they said it is above the normal for the city for January. The city’s maximum temperature has been hovering around 31-32 degrees Celsius, which is normal for the summer months, which are a good two months away.
Met Department officials said a high-pressure cold belt has been created in North Asia, comprising Bhutan, Jammu and Kashmir and surrounding areas. If cold high wind blows from the region to the South, the temperature could go down, but it is a remote possibility the officials said. The city will continue to experience similar temperatures over the next few days, they said. Conventionally, it is considered that winter will prevail till the end of February.
On Wednesday and Thursday, the city recorded 32 degrees Celsius, whereas the normal for the month is 27 degrees Celsius. Interestingly, the temperature recorded in Bengaluru and Gulbarga, which normally records some of the highest temperatures during summer, is the same.
The weathermen attributed the hot and dry conditions to the absence of cloud cover over the city in the last few days. When the sky is clear, the earth absorbs solar radiation throughout the day and increases the heat, they said.
B. Puttanna, Director-in-Charge, IMD Bengaluru, said that in the last 10 years, this is only the fourth instance of the city recording temperatures of up to 32 degrees Celsius in January. The fluctuation in daytime temperature is common when the region is not hit by a severe winter. In the last two years, the city recorded lower temperatures, but this year, it has not gone below 14 degrees Celsius.
“There is a rise in temperature, but this is not an indicator of harsh summer ahead. There are different weather parameters which are responsible for the increase in temperature. Clear skies and light wind add to increase in temperature because of the Heat Island Effect that is experienced in thickly urbanised areas like Bengaluru,” Mr Puttanna said.
“Once the clouds are back over the city, the temperature will come down by at least 2 degrees Celsius. There is a trough of easterly wave. Under its influence we might receive clouds from Friday night. There is a possibility of light rain too if the present system intensifies after raining over southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala,” he adds.