PANJIM: Climate change could be having a larger impact on Goa’s weather than thought of and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) intends to conduct a scientific study to assess the same. After a deficit rainfall trend over the last five years, the first two months of the winter season – October and November – have turned out to be the hottest in the last ten years. 

As per information available from IMD’s Goa Observatory, the mean maximum temperature for October was 33.9 degrees Celsius, while the mean minimum was 23.8 degrees Celsius. October 9 was the hottest with a temperature of 35.8 degrees Celsius. 

November 18, turned out to be the hottest day in the month recording a temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius temperature. The mean maximum temperature stood at 34.6 degrees Celsius while the mean minimum temperature was 22.7 degrees Celsius for that month.

IMD Goa Director, M L Sahu speaking to Herald said “The mean maximum and minimum temperature for October and November were the highest over the last ten years. There was a lot of moisture in the air because of which the temperature was not dropping. There seems to be impact of climate change”.

He further said “But we cannot ascertain to what level. A scientific study has to be done for that. IMD will undertake research work to understand the climate change impact”. 

He recalled that the climate change impact was also visible during the monsoon season that failed to touch even the 100 inch mark. 

Sahu said that for December, the temperature has dropped. The maximum temperature is 32 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is 19 degrees Celsius.