Freak cold-snap in SOUTH India--15 reported deaths

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-16607313

Fifteen die in freak south India cold snap

2012/01/18 05:17 ET

Southern India rarely experiences cold weather

At least 15 people have died in an unprecedented cold wave sweeping through south India.

The deaths were reported from Andhra Pradesh state, where temperatures dipped to 1C in the coastal districts and in parts of the Telangana region, meteorological officials said.

My father-in-law had told of this number in Hyderabad (state-capitol) where he said temps went down to 4C (lowest temp ever recorded in Hyderabad previously is around 14C; AP state climate is NOT moderated by altitude, unlike that of parts of neighbouring Karnataka--see below).

Some parts of neighbouring Karnataka state also saw temperatures drop to their lowest in over 100 years.

Much of north India has also been hit by extreme cold weather conditions.

The tribal region of Lambasingi in Andhra Pradesh is in the throes of a cold snap with temperatures dipping to 1C on Tuesday. Adilabad shivered as the mercury fell to 4C, down from 15C last week.

Madikeri in neighbouring Karnataka recorded its coldest weather in 132 years with temperatures plummeting to 4.8C.

The popular hill station of Mysore experienced its coldest day in 120 years with temperatures dipping to 7.7C. The state capital Bangalore recorded a low of 12C.

These are actually within "normal range possible" values--as both cities do have altitude to partly moderate their climate.

"The severe cold wave from the north and north-east combined with clear skies are to blame for the cold conditions [in the south]", B Puttanna of the Bangalore Meteorological office told The Times of India newspaper.

Southern India rarely experiences cold weather and with homes not centrally heated like buildings in the West, conditions can be miserable.

Northern India is also experiencing severe cold weather.

Heavy snowfall in Indian-administered Kashmir has led to power cuts and rationing of gas. And fog and cold weather have caused flight disruptions in the Indian capital, Delhi,

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Weather all over has been freaky for the the past few years. Texas with it's record drought, Alaska with it's receding glaciers yet we have set cold records the past few years and now this thing in India. It's weird. It's like it's extreme in both directions...hot and cold. I just hope those people in southern India get some kind of quick reprieve from the cold.

[MyLittlePony 340]

The dry spell is over i hope supposed to have a whopping storm rolling in tonight.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Weather all over has been freaky for the the past few years. Texas with it's record drought, Alaska with it's receding glaciers yet we have set cold records the past few years and now this thing in India. It's weird. It's like it's extreme in both directions...hot and cold. I just hope those people in southern India get some kind of quick reprieve from the cold.

Reprieve is guaranteed--within 2 months, there will be heat-waves there. Edited January 18, 2012 by Saddle Bronc