A construction worker stops for a drink of water at Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur on Thursday. | Photo credit: KK NAJEEB
The state is on the verge of declaring a heat wave as key weather parameters have come close to crossing the prescribed thresholds in Kerala. But the meteorological agency held back from officially declaring a heat wave, as the temperature remained just below the required limit on Thursday after exceeding normal values on Wednesday.
For a heat wave to be formally declared, both the absolute temperature and its deviation from normal must exceed set limits for two consecutive days. For example, in the plains, the maximum temperature should be 40 °C or more, with a deviation from normal of at least 4.5 °C. In coastal areas, the maximum temperature should be 37°C or more, with a deviation of 4.5°C above normal. In addition, such conditions must be recorded at a minimum of two stations for two consecutive days as specified by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Published – 23 Apr 2026 20:38 IST
