IMD predicts spell to last for 5 days
PANAJI
From the pleasant winter mornings with a soft and cool breeze to uncomfortably hot and humid conditions – even during early mornings and late evenings, Goa’s weather has taken an abrupt turn. However, this change is not attributed to Cyclone Fengal but to the dominance of easterly winds over the usual northerly winds.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Goa has forecasted that the current hot and humid spell will persist for at least five days before the coastal State transitions back to winter winds.
“As forecasted earlier, there is an increase in minimum temperature due to strong winds moving from east to west (easterly winds) dominating the cold winds approaching from north direction (northerly winds). This interaction has resulted in humid and increase in minimum temperatures across the central region including Konkan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa,” IMD official Nahush Kulkarni said speaking to The Goan. On Wednesday, Goa's maximum temperature was 32°C and southeasterly winds moved at 3.7 km/h.
Goa officially entered the winter season with the lowest temperature of 19.6°C recorded on November 29.
“Goa has meteorologically entered the winter season in December and this is just the starting phase of winter. We expect the return of winter winds after about five days as the current conditions won’t vanish at once,” Kulkarni added.
When asked whether Cyclone Fengal has a role, the IMD official clarified that it’s just an indirect impact. “Goa did not experience much effect except for a slight shift in weather, which is expected during such conditions. The cyclone’s movement from the East to the Arabian Sea, crossing southern states, caused minor fluctuations,” he explained.
Goa was put on a rainfall alert for December 3-4, during which light to moderate rainfall was recorded at isolated places while the other areas experienced cloudy conditions. A fresh Yellow Alert has been issued for December 5.
