• This phenomenon is typical for this time of year

By Yohan Perera

The temperature in Ratnapura District in Sabaragamuwa Province and Kandy, Nuwara-Eliya in the Central Province had declined bringing a rise in temperature, the Department of Meteorology said.

The temperature in Ratnapura was recorded to be 36c degrees, while Kandy recorded 30c and Nuwara- Eliya 21c degrees.

A climatologist from the Department of Meteorology told Daily Mirror that the decline of wind flow had resulted in the temperature rise. “The atmosphere does not get a cooling effect when winds decline. This is why temperatures rise. This is a usual happening during this time of the year,” she said.    

The Department earlier said people feel the heat more as their perspiration does not evaporate into the air. As per the explanation,  evaporation reduces when there is more humidity in the environment. People feel uncomfortable when their perspiration does not dry up and fails to get absorbed into the environment. Humidity is measured by using hygrometers. It is the amount of water vapour in the air compared to the amount required to saturate it given as a percentage.