Kochi: Kerala is expected to face a heat wave, with climate change experts warning of increasing temperatures across the state. A heat wave is typically defined by temperatures exceeding 40°C in the plains and 30°C in the hills. On Saturday, Palakkad recorded an extreme temperature of 38°C, a worrying sign ahead of the hotter months of April and May.
While heat waves are usually associated with northern and central Indian states like Odisha, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Kerala has seen rising temperatures in recent years. This is not typical for Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The highest temperature recorded in Palakkad was 41.9°C in April 2016.
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Increasing temperatures across Kerala
The state’s temperatures have been increasing steadily for the past decade, with the dry northeasterly winds passing through the Palakkad and Punalur gaps in the Western Ghats being a major contributor to the heat.
Extreme climate changes have been noticeable in Kerala since 2016, which saw the state experience its first heatwave. This was followed by Cyclone Ockhi in 2017 and severe floods in 2018.
Notable temperature records in Kerala
On February 17, temperatures at various locations across Kerala were:
- Kannur: 34.3°C
- Karipur: 34.1°C
- Kozhikode: 35.6°C
- Minicoy: 32.2°C
- Thiruvananthapuram: 34.4°C
- Kottayam: 35.6°C
- Palakkad: 35.5°C
- Punalur: 36.4°C
- Vellanikkara: 36.5°C
Sunday's temperatures at various locations
- Kannur: 34.3°C
- Karipur: 34.1°C
- Kozhikode: 35.6°C
- Minicoy: 32.2°C
- Thiruvananthapuram: 34.4°C
- Kottayam: 35.6°C
- Palakkad: 35.5°C
- Punalur: 36.4°C
- Vellanikkara: 36.5°C
Climate change and rising temperatures
The rise in temperatures is directly linked to climate change, as noted by Neetha Gopal, Director of the Thiruvananthapuram Meteorological Centre. “Since Kerala is close to the equator, it will naturally experience hotter conditions,” she explained.
Heat waves can have severe health consequences, from sunburns and fatigue to vomiting, fainting, and, in extreme cases, death. Although occasional rain can offer some relief from milder heat, there is currently no expectation of such weather conditions in Kerala.
Published: 17 Feb 2025, 07:56 am IST
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