IMD officials said the maximum temperature in the state would hover around 40 degrees celsius in the northern districts till May 6. (TOI photo)

PALAKKAD/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It seems Kerala will have to sweat it out till the monsoon. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast an abovenormal monsoon in June.

Malampuzha in Palakkad on Tuesday recorded the maximum temperature of 41.1 degrees celsius, the highest in the state this year. It is also the highest temperature recorded in Malampuzha after 1987.

The minimum temperature in Malampuzha on Tuesday was 26.8 degrees celsius. The maximum and minimum temperatures in Malampuzha on Monday was 40.7 degrees celsius and 26.9 degrees celsius respectively. Elsewhere in the state, Kannur and Kozhikode recorded 38 degrees celsius while Alappuzha, Kottayam, Punalur and Vellanikara registered 37 degrees celsius.

IMD officials said the maximum temperature in the state would hover around 40 degrees celsius in the northern districts till May 6. The department also issued a health alert in various parts of the state, including Kannur, Alappuzha, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, saying it would be uncomfortable and hot causing heat cramps and exhaustion due to the heat and high humidity levels.

IMD director K Santhosh said rainfall or thundershowers were likely in parts of the state till Friday. In the last 24 hours, Punalur in Kollam and Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram reported 1cm rainfall each.

In Palakkad, Mundur recorded 40.5 degrees celsius on Tuesday. The minimum temperature was 28.5 degrees celsius. The figures were 40 degrees celsius and 29.5 degrees celsius on Monday. Pattambi recorded 38 degrees celsius and 26.2 degrees celsius on Tuesday as against 37.4 degrees celsius and 25.7 degrees celsius on Monday. Palakkad district medical officer Dr K P Reetha said though there was no official figures on incidents of sunstroke and sun burns, the unprecedented increase in temperature and heat wave could bring a disaster. She said only two sunstroke deaths were reported in the district but over 60 sun burn cases had been reported.

“There is a possibility of more sunstroke and sun burn cases with the temperature crossing 41 degrees celsius. People should avoid working in the open after 11 am and before 5 pm,” she said. The work timings for those working in the open were rescheduled so as to give a break for workers from 12 noon to 3pm.

“However, it is found that a large number of workers are not following the timings,” she added.

