PANJIM: While the country is reeling under a heatwave, the beginning of summer season in March did not spare Goa too from severe heat.
The maximum temperature usually peaks in April-May with core heatwave zone spanning in Central India but Goa this time recorded temperature above normal. Like in other parts of the country that broke the record of last over a century for last month, Goa also witnessed heatwave like situation.
The capital city Panjim recorded the highest 37.8°C as maximum temperature, which was +5.5°C above normal on March 14, 2022.
The maximum temperature of 37.4°C was reported on March 13, 2022.
"This is 5.1°C higher than normal and 14th highest recorded at Panjim in the month of March. The highest maximum temperature recorded at Panjim in the month of March is 39°C on March 12, 1979," weather scientist Dr Rajasree VPM, Scientist, Meteorological Centre, Goa told Herald.
There have been seven previous occasions when maximum temperature in Panjim in March were higher than 37.8. The latest was on March 8, 2013 that saw 38°C and on March 4, 2009 that was 37.9°C.
"We can say that parts of south Konkan and Goa, including parts of Goa realised heat wave conditions on March 14. If we analyse 50 years of past data, there has been two such events in Panjim when it recorded higher than 37 degrees on consecutive three days in March. This was in 2013 and 1984," the scientist said.
In 2013, the highest temperature was recorded on March 4, 5 and 6 and in 1984 it was on March 1, 2 and 3.
The April month will witness normal maximum and minimum temperatures for the first 2 weeks.