Illustration: Orion/OnmanoramaThiruvananthapuram: More bad news is in store for Kerala, which has been sweating it out under the scorching sun for the past couple of months.
Weatherman has predicted that the sunny days are here to stay, with the temperatures likely to soar beyond the 40 degree Celsius mark in the state.
Springing up of skyscrapers, more vehicles on roads and rampant cutting of trees continue to be the basic factors causing the mercury to rise. However, this time, the El Nino phenomenon formed in the Pacific ocean has also contributed to the temperature rise in Kerala.
As the oceanic temperature has increased, the overall climate has undergone a phenomenal change. Even intermittent summer rains will not be able to provide any respite, if the mercury goes past 40 degree Celsius.
Kerala is likely to be in this 'hot furnace state' until the monsoon arrives in last week of May or early June, it is being said.
