Rajasthan: May hasn’t been that scorching this year

JAIPUR: Change in climatic conditions, short spells of rain, dust storm and hailstorm, the first fortnight of May has been less warmer compared to the last 10 years.
During May, the average maximum temperature of the state is around 44°C, but this year it has been hovering around 40°C. Previous years data show that the last week of May usually records maximum temperatures on and above 45°C.
Jaipur recorded a maximum of 44°C to 47°C this month in the last 10 years. However, this year it clocked 40°C on a very few days. Likewise, the state’s average temperature this month has been 40°C, almost 4 degrees less compared to otehr years.
Attributing this to the prevailing upper air cyclonic circulation and western disturbances, Jaipur Met office said similar conditions will prevail in the coming weeks.
“This is now a subject of research to find out why there has been prolonged cyclonic circulation and western disturbances. Can we correlate it with the less pollution in the environment and other factors? These are the things which are under research. Usually rainfall, dust storm and hailstorm were witnessed from March up to mid-April in previous years, but this year this has been extended,” said an officer with the IMD, Delhi.
Meanwhile, mild showers, dust storm and hailstorm were recorded in some parts of the state on Saturday bringing the mercury down during the morning. However, in the afternoon the cloud cover vanished. Barmer remained hottest clocking 42.7°C. Jaipur recorded a minimum temperature of 26°C and a maximum of 39.5°C.
Relief for calamities: The state government on Saturday allocated a budget of Rs. 55.38 crore for the relief of those whose crops were affected due to hailstorms and a compensation of Rs 52 lakh for the families of the deceased. There are 57,211 affected persons in six tehsils of Bharatpur district who lost 33 per cent crop has been damaged, said Siddharth Mahajan, secretary, disaster management. He informed Mahajan informed that 13 people lost their lives in the state on May 3 and 4. “An amount of Rs 52 lakh has been allocated for the families of the deceased. The amount has been transferred to the accounts of affected persons," he said.