KANNUR/T’PURAM: Mattannur in Kannur was the hottest place in the country last Saturday (February 7), with mercury touching 38.4 degrees Celsius, even before the onset of summer in the state.
The sweltering temperature was recorded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at Kannur International Airport in Mattannur. As per the IMD, the district has been reporting high temperatures over the past few days. Mattannur had experienced unusually high temperatures during the same period last year.
In fact, rising temperatures have already been reported in various parts of Kerala. IMD data said weather stations in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi airport, Kozhikode, and Kottayam recorded max temperatures around 2 degree Celsius above normal on several days. Observations from IMD and ICFOSS stations also show that temperatures in multiple districts have already crossed the 36 degrees Celsius mark.
Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) official Rajeevan Erikkulam said high temperatures in February was a common phenomenon in midland regions.
“Unlike coastal areas, which are often cooled by sea breeze, and high-range areas, where the climate remains relatively mild due to geographical factors, the midland experiences more intense heat. These regional variations in weather patterns mean these areas tend to feel the impact of rising temperatures more sharply during this period,” he said.
In contrast, Kannur recorded a temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius on February 7, which is considered normal compared to higher temperatures in Mattannur. Last year, February 28 was the hottest in Mattannur at 40.2 degrees Celsius. Rajeevan said with summer onset, regions such as Palakkad and Punalur usually record highest temperatures.
In view of the rise in temperature, the KSDMA on Monday issued an advisory and urged people to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm as chances of heat-related events, including sunstroke, are high.