Panaji: The state capital continued to reel under unusually high temperatures on Wednesday, with Panaji recording a maximum of 37.4°C, 5.2 degrees above normal, according to observational data by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).This marked the second consecutive day that temperatures in the state capital crossed 37°C, intensifying the unseasonal Oct heat after Panaji recorded 37.2°C, 5 degrees above normal on Oct 13.On Wednesday, the IMD’s observatory data also showed Mormugao recording a maximum temperature of 36.8°C, 5.3 degrees above normal.In minimum temperatures, Panaji recorded 24.7°C, marginally above normal by 0.5 degrees, while Mormugao registered 24.6°C, close to its normal level.The latest spell follows another period of unusually high temperatures on Oct 11 and 12, when Panaji recorded maximum temperatures above 36°C on both days. On Oct 12, the capital registered 36.6°C, 5.1 degrees above normal, while Mormugao recorded 35.8°C, 4.5 degrees above normal.The persistent heat has been accompanied by lower-than-normal relative humidity. Panaji recorded 62% humidity on Wednesday, 15 percentage points below normal, while Mormugao registered 78%, seven percentage points below normal.According to IMD, he unusual rise in temperatures comes despite Oct marking the transition away from the southwest monsoon season. The hot conditions are expected to persist over the next couple of days, prolonging the spell of above-normal temperatures across the state. A yellow alert for hot and humid conditions over Goa has been extended to Oct 17.The Southwest Monsoon officially withdrew from Goa on Oct 14.
