Cold spell grips Mysuru; expect further drop in temperature

Mysuru: Mysuru is experiencing severe cold conditions and it will stay a bit longer with the temperatures likely to plummet to 11 degrees Celsius. The temperature is low enough for people to pull out their sweaters and jackets while there is an increase in demand for pullovers, jackets and shawls. While the weather is pleasant during the day, late evenings, nights and early mornings are chilly though not freezing. In the mornings, cold spells remain till about 9.30 am. As a result of the chill, there is also a decline in the number of people going for morning walk as evident at Kukkarahalli Lake, Manasagangothri campus, Karanji Nature Park and Chamundi Hill. Normally, cold weather begins to ease after the arrival of Makara Sankranti on Jan.14. This year, however, even in the first week of February, people in Mysuru and surrounding regions are experiencing a steady decline in the minimum temperature. On Jan.21, Mysuru recorded a temperature of 9.7 degrees Celsius — the coldest night in January this year. According to the data from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), this was 6.7 degrees Celsius below normal. A week back, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. On Friday, Feb.2, the city recorded a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. The all-time record for the lowest temperature for January for Mysuru was recorded on Jan.16, 2012, when the mercury level dipped to 7.7  degrees Celsius. IMD data and the statistics released by Organic Farming Research Station in Naganahalli say that between Feb.3 and Feb.7, the minimum temperature is likely to plummet to 11 degrees Celsius while the maximum temperature will touch 30 degrees Celsius.