Ki fait co!

13 Octobre 2006

Times of India 10 octobre 2006

LUCKNOW: Monsoon is over, but there is no respite from the heat. After a hot September, Uttar Pradesh is now witnessing high temperatures in October as well.

As mercury is hovering three-five degrees above normal all over the state, it is turning out to be the 'hottest October' ever in Lucknow.

Maximum temperatures in the city have almost touched an all time high. Against the normal of 33 degrees Celsius, maximum temperature in Lucknow on October 7 was 37 degree Celsius, on October 8 it was 37.4 degrees and on Monday (October 9) 35.8 degrees Celsius.

City's highest temperature in October is 37.7 degrees Celsius, recorded on October 18, 1969.

Temperature in the month of June is 38.7 degree Celsius, but this year October is witnessing temperatures between 36-37 degree Celsius, when normally it is time for winter to set in.

Particularly after Sharad Purnima, nights become 'chilly' and in the morning one could see the dew on the grass. But this year, people are still using air conditioners and coolers in the night.

Significantly, the city has witnessed abnormal weather pattern this year. There was no fog in the winters. February and March were unusually hot.

April was normal, but May saw plenty of rains and thunder storms, however, monsoon arrived late. Though July got excess rains, August and September went dry.

State met director agrees that it is unusually warm, but does not find anything abnormal with it. "Such variations in season occur from time to time," he said.

"Right now we are in a transition period," he said as he explained how the delay in withdrawal of monsoon winds from the state has delayed the winter season as well. Monsoon has withdrawn from Lucknow, but maritime air is still active in east UP.

Since easterlies are full of moisture, they keep temperatures at moderate levels.

Winter begins after monsoon, when moisture laden easterly winds are replaced by dry westerly continental winds coming from cold regions of Asia crisscrossing Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The earth at the time starts moving away from the Sun. However, this year continental winds have not started to blow as yet. "