Kerala swelters amid weak monsoon

Kerala is experiencing unusually hot weather early in September, with temperatures soaring above normal levels across the state. On Monday, September 7, 2026, Punalur in Kollam district recorded a high of 36.2 degrees Celsius, a significant 4.3 degrees Celsius above the usual temperature for this time of year. This reading comes as the southwest monsoon remains weak across the region. Other areas also reported elevated temperatures. Kottayam registered 35.2 degrees Celsius, 4.4 degrees Celsius above normal, marking the largest departure from average among the listed stations. Palakkad reached 34.2 degrees Celsius, 3.9 degrees above normal, while CIAL Kochi recorded 34.1 degrees Celsius, 3.4 degrees above normal. Thiruvananthapuram city and Vellanikkara both touched 33.8 degrees Celsius, exceeding their normal temperatures by 2.8 and 3.7 degrees Celsius, respectively. The heat was widespread, with Kozhikode at 33 degrees Celsius and Kannur at 32.7 degrees Celsius, both more than two degrees above their respective averages. In fact, daytime temperatures in every district reportedly crossed the 32 degrees Celsius mark.