Panaji: After nearly a week of hot and humid conditions, Panaji’s maximum temperature returned to normal at 32.3°C on Friday, after remaining above 36°C daily since Sunday.“Goa’s spell of unusually high Oct temperatures does not qualify as a conventional heatwave, as we classify the prevailing conditions as ‘hot and humid weather’,” said IMD director Nahush Kulkarni.Panaji recorded maximum temperatures of 37.2°C on Oct 13 and 37.4°C on Oct 14, which were 5°C and 5.2°C above normal, respectively. The city also recorded 36.6°C on Oct 12, 5.1°C above normal, and 36.4°C on Oct 15.“The prevailing weather phenomenon affecting the Konkan belt and Goa is expected to gradually ease,” Kulkarni said.The hot and humid conditions have coincided with a deficient monsoon. Goa received around 80 inches of rainfall between June 1 and Sept 30, against a seasonal average of nearly 118 inches, resulting in a deficit of about 32%. The southwest monsoon officially withdrew from Goa on Wednesday.Light rain and thundershowers are forecast across Goa until Sunday, offering some relief from the heat. Light to moderate showers are likely over the ghats and adjoining areas of North Goa and Kushavati, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40kmph. The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow warning for the prevailing conditions and forecast light rainfall from Oct 19 onwards.
