Correspondent
IMPHAL, APRIL 21
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]anipur has recorded the highest temperature in the last 10 years, according to the Meteorological (MET) office, Imphal.
MET office at Tulihal airport complex near Imphal claimed to have recorded the highest temperature of 35.6 Degree Celsius and lowest at 16.9 Degree Celsius on Sunday, followed by similar temperature of 35.6 Degree Celsius and lowest at 18.9 Degree Celsius on Monday.
The state recorded highest temperature on April 27, 1979(34.4 degree Celsius).
The maximum temperature recorded on Sunday was one of the highest temperatures recorded in the history MET office Imphal which was opened on February 19, 1952.An official of MET office Imphal when contacted on phone said that residents here will experience the hottest summer in Manipur’s climate history if the existing trend continues in the coming days,” comments. At the same time it may also affect the livelihood of the people particularly those who practices agricultural activities in the region.
However according to former Officer in Charge of MET office Imphal Kh Meghachadra, the highest maximum temperature recorded between 1952 and 1990 was 35.6 Degree Celsius as per Climatological table at National Data Centre, Pune. Interestingly the same maximum temperature was also recorded on April 28, 1979.
This record was however surpassed by 36.1 degree Celsius, the temperature recorded on April 28, 1999 as per my study during short tenure in the MET office, he informed when sought his comment.
In Meteorology, March to May is considered hot weather season and from June onwards, we will have southwest monsoon, what we locally refer to as seasonal rain, the former weatherman felt.
The unprecedented rise in the maximum temperature was also reported in Manipur’s Imphal East, Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts.
Interestingly Tamenglong or the western district of Manipur has the highest maximum temperature of 35.89 degree Celsius (recorded on Sunday) among all the nine districts of the state, according to daily weather reports of state directorate of environment. Though most of the districts recorded highest maximum temperature, the maximum temperature recorded at Indian Council of Agricultural Research Imphal centre located at the low lying Lamphelpat wetland area in Imphal is yet to reach 33 degree Celsius. The maximum temperature recorded at the centre on Sunday was 32.7 degree Celsius.
