Maximum temperature to rise by 1-2°C from March 1

Panaji: The first week of March is likely to see an increase in maximum temperature by 1-2°C across Goa, said the India meteorological department (IMD) on Sunday.
In Panaji, the maximum temperature this month has been higher than normal, with the IMD reporting a departure of 1.6°C above normal for 15 days. Sunday’s maximum temperature was 36.2°C, which is 3.8°C above normal, making it one of the hottest days of the month. Earlier, February 13 (37.9°C) and February 16 (38.2°C) had also recorded high temperatures.
The minimum temperature has mostly stayed normal, with just seven February days showing a departure of 1.6°C.
“Fluctuations in temperatures is a normal thing,” said IMD scientist Rahul M. “When wind directions change, slight variations in wind speed, or a slight delay or advance in sea breeze setting result in slight variations in maximum temperature day by day.”
Over the past 3-4 days, southeasterly winds have been gaining speed, and a possible delay of sea breeze is likely. Thus, the coming week can again see temperatures of 35-36°C in Panaji. However, “the RH (relative humidity) values remain low and the impact of the rise in temperature is minimal compared to what it would have been had the same temperatures been recorded in April or May,” Rahul said.
The IMD forecast also stated that no large change in maximum temperature is expected on Monday and Tuesday. The maximum temperature recorded in Panaji over the past few days has been 33-34°C.