Gear up for colder days across the state

BANGALORE: ‘It is so cold today!’ seemed to be the general remark made by almost every Bangalorean on Tuesday. And the city residents are in for colder days, if similar cloudy weather conditions prevail, predicts the  weatherman.The presence of clouds has led to easterly variation in temperature due to which the daytime temperature has dipped three degree Celsius below normal. If similar cloudy conditions prevail, the daytime temperature is going to dip further by 5-6 degrees below normal in the next three weeks, according to B Puttanna, director, Meteorological Centre, IMD, Bangalore. He told Express: “The maximum daytime temperature on December 19-20 generally remains around 26 degree Celsius, but as per the records, the temperature has dropped to 23 degree on December 20, which is three degrees below normal, and the minimum temperature has gone down by one degree below the normal from 16 to 15 degrees.”He added: “During winter, the sun is in the Southern Hemisphere. Due to the presence of thick clouds, the solar radiation is not allowed to reach earth’s surface during the day, leading to a decrease in temperature.”The Met Department measures winter temperature on the basis of minimum temperature recorded in the early hours, he said, adding that it was, however, the drop in the daytime temperatures  that affected people more as they were out in the open.He said for the past 24 hours Bijapur recorded the lowest temperature of 10.5 degree Celsius in the state. Bijapur had recorded the lowest temperature of 6 degree Celsius on December 19 last year. Puttanna also said light rains were possible in some parts, but generally dry weather would prevail.