March record: IMD issues yellow coded heat alert for 7 straight days

Panaji: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) extended the yellow alert warning for heat over Goa to March 8. Hot and humid conditions are very likely to prevail over isolated pockets of the state during this time. Earlier, the yellow alert was only until March 7.
With this, Goa will have seven consecutive days of yellow-coded heat alert (March 2-8). As per IMD heatwave criteria, a yellow alert stands for ‘heat alert’ when heatwave conditions are likely to persist for two days.
“It looks like, as it is the first time, Goa is experiencing the yellow alert (for heat) so early in March,” said meteorologist and retired NIO scientist, M R Ramesh Kumar. He said that we are in for more such heat alerts in the coming days. “Heat wave-like or heat wave conditions will prevail in the coming days and months. Only pre-monsoon showers can douse their effects in the coming days.”
However, the pre-monsoon season is not anticipated until April-May over Goa.
“This will have a profound influence on the flora and fauna of the state of Goa,” Kumar said.
The IMD doesn’t expect relief from these conditions as its alert states that both North and South Goa are likely to experience dry conditions until at least March 12. For the next 48 hours, the skies will be predominantly clear, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 36°C and 25°C, respectively.
The maximum temperature is likely to remain between 35°C and 37°C over the next seven days, with isolated pockets of the state experiencing particularly hot and humid conditions, as per the IMD forecast.
This prolonged period of heat is contributing to the discomfort of locals, particularly in urban areas, as humidity levels remain high. On Thursday, temperatures reached 35.2°C in Panaji and 36.4°C in Mormugao, as the heat continued to grip the state. The relative humidity over Panaji was 69% and 92% over Mormugao.