Panaji: In significant relief from severe day and night heat due to the impact of El Nino during the post-monsoon season so far, the mercury dropped nearly 4°C below normal to 18.8°C on Saturday.The minimum temperature had been trending downward this week, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Panaji, recorded above 20°C for a few days.The sudden slide below 20°C for the first time this season – 3.8°C below normal – brought some relief from oppressive heat.“The dip of mercury below 20°C raises hope of a normal seasonal decrease in minimum temperature despite the strongest El Nino of the century brewing over the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean,” said M R Ramesh Kumar, chief scientist (retired) at NIO and meteorologist.The drop in minimum temperature may be due to clearer skies after sunset and increased long-wave radiation at night, he said.The IMD, Panaji, has forecast dry weather for the next few days, with minimum temperatures likely to hover between 33°C and 35°C.The maximum temperature occasionally rises above 35°C. On Friday, it rose just 1.1°C above normal to 34.6°C but came down to 33.6°C on Saturday.A well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal persists, with an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to 7km above mean sea level.However, a cyclonic circulation over the east-central Arabian Sea and adjoining northern Lakshadweep, at 3.1km above mean sea level, has weakened.
