Goa heat wave sees schools curtail class timings till noon

PANAJI: Schools conducted classes only till 12 noon on Thursday in Goa due to a heat wave, an official said. A circular issued by state Director of Education Shailesh Sinai Zingade said the heat wave will continue for another day as per the India Meteorological Department, due to which classes will curtailed at 12 noon on Friday as well.

"Because of the strengthening of easterly winds, clear sky conditions and delay in setting time of sea breeze, the maximum temperature over Goa is likely to remain 4-6 degrees Celsius higher than its normal value. Persistence of these conditions is likely to satisfy the criteria of heat wave over the region March 8 and 9," the IMD's Goa observatory stated. "Maximum temperatures are likely to fall gradually by 2-3 degrees Celsius from March 11 onwards," the IMD added.

According to the weather department, a fresh Western Disturbance will be active in the Himalayan region from the night of March 12, 2023. The same will remain active till March 14, 2023. Maximum temperature recorded at the observatories of the Goa meteorological centre on Wednesday after 24 hours reveal that the heat wave conditions are very likely at isolated places over Goa on March 9.

IMD has advised citizens and tourists to avoid heat exposure, stay hydrated, and protect themselves from dehydration.
Goa is battling several simultaneous wildfires, especially within the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary and in several other parts of the state. Rising temperature above normal is one of the possible causes attributed to these fires.