Highest Max Temperature of Imphal

Kh Meghachandra *

Fishing during a hot summer day at Chajing Pukhri Achouba, Chajing, in third week of May 2012
Pix - Bunti Phurailatpam

It is often said that weather-wise, Manipur is quite an enjoyable place. However, with the onset of hot weather season, people, particularly scribes have been making queries about maximum temperature.

In Meteorology, March to May is considered hot weather season and from June onwards, we will have southwest monsoon, what we locally refer to as Kumgi Nong (seasonal rain). As per NDC, Pune (record examined by me while on a tour to Pune), the highest maximum temperature recorded between 1952 and 1990 was 35.6 degree Celsius. This record was surpassed by 36.1 degree Celsius, the temperature recorded on 28/04/1999.

Meteorological Office, Imphal was established on 19 February, 1952. So, I am a bit older than Met office, Imphal. This reminds me of Christopher Plummer, the 82-year old actor, who after holding the Oscar prize for Best Supporting Actor in the 84th Annual Academy Award Function, declared, "You are two years older than me, darling".

In Meteorology, air temperature at the earth's surface is defined as the shade temperature measures in a louvered screen at a height of about 4 feet above the ground. There is free flow of air inside and thermometers kept inside are protected from rain and direct sunlight.

Air temperature, though closely follow the ground temperature, differences are also possible due to the nature of the surface and horizontal transference of heat by wind. Highest temperature recorded by Maximum Thermometer; it will remain unchanged till it is reset. After 24 hours, at 0830 hours observation, setting is to be done to enable record of highest temperature for that day.

When the highest and lowest temperature in a day occurred?

Generally, we record maximum temperature in the afternoon period and minimum on the morning just after sunrise. Hence for a day, usually, both maximum and minimum temperature can be read at 0830 hours and 1730 hours observations respectively. However, it is possible to record minimum temperature during daytime and maximum temperature at night time and such cases are very rare.

Met office, Imphal has been going eight synoptic observations daily, of which 0830 hours and 1730 hours observations are major observations. It used to pass over the phone the temperature records and rainfall data to AIR, Imphal; DDK Imphal and Regional Met Centre (RMC), Guwahati or such informations were collected by them including press or after collection of such datas from all Met offices of Northeastern states, RMC Guwahati send them to DDK, Guwahati for 7.15 Pm NE bulletin.

It seems that AIR Imphal and DDK Imphal have not taken due care of the information passed after 1730 hours, which are treated as belated. If it is so, it is really unfortunate. IMD, which is under the Government of India, is solely for providing weather services/information of the country. Depending on the weather condition, the services sometimes continue even after 3 pm during summer and efforts are on to make the weather data available by 4 pm in all seasons.

In the weather report published in a local daily, it was seen that maximum temperature till 0830 hours on 29th May was 35.6 degree Celsius. However, it should be 34.7 degree Celsiou as recorded in the afternoon of 28th May. This 34.7 degree Celsius is shown till 0830 hours of 29th May and after that it is set for recording the maximum temperature for 29th May. The maximum temperature recorded for 29th May was 35.6 degree Celsius. The highest temperature recorded by the maximum thermometer will remain stick to the value till the next setting is done. Hence maximum temperature till 0830 hours of 29th May should be 34.7 degree Celsius.

In case of rainfall, we need the quantity of rainfall date wise or for a period. So, we have been waiting to clarify this point for a long time through media to clear the confusion over the mind of the people. We cannot treat rainfall like that of temperatures. In case of rainfall, mainly the weatherman uses quantity of rainfall recorded from 0830 hours of a day to the 0830 hours of the following day as the daily rainfall of that particular date. The rainfall recorded on 29.05.2012 was 15.4 mm.

This was the quantity of rainfall recorded between 0830 hours of 28.5.2012 and 0830 hours of 29.5.2012. In other words, the rainfall for the past 24 hours ending on 0830 hours of 29th May was 15.4 mm. However, if anybody likes to know the rainfall recorded, say, from 0530 hours to 0830 hours or 1130 hours or 1430 hours or 1730 hours, etc, the same will be available.

Nor let us see the high temperatures recorded by Met office, Imphal from March to September during 1952 to May 2012.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) has tabulated mean values of temperature using data from 1952 to 1980 and from 1971 to 2000. According to the first, the temperature 34.7o C on 28.05.2012 is higher by 5.7oC and as per the 2nd one, it is higher by 5.1oC. These are call departures from normal values.

If another such tabulation of normal values of temperature be prepared using data from 1990 to 2011 or something based on latest area, we may get somewhat new values of normal temperatures. IMD will do it certainly and we have to wait till it comes out. As IMD has predicated timely arrival of South West Monsoon, let us settle for rain forgetting continues high temperature days of May.