Windy weather causing winter chill

Bangalore: While there hasn't been much temperature fluctuation in the city over the past four-five weeks, the increase in wind speed -- from 9.5 knots to 12 knots as compared to last winter -- has resulted in the chill.
A Muthuchami, director, meteorological department, attributes the chillness to the wind. "There is no dip in temperature. Rather, there has been a rise in temperature during the winter and humidity has also increased.Due to fluctuation in wind speed, people are feeling the extra chill,'' Muthuchami said.
Typically, winter starts from mid-December continuing to January 15 but this year, the winter set in early in the city and experts say summer is also expected to start early this year.
Raje Gowda, agro-meteorologist, Gandhi Krishi Vignan Kendra, said, "Extreme cold winds are blowing from the north and eastern parts of the country towards the south, causing the chill effect. This year, due to an early onset of the monsoon, we'll experience severe cold in the first two weeks of January.''
Explaining the impact of this climate change on agriculture, Raje Gowda said the weak north-east monsoon has been unable to supply adequate moisture to the soil. If there's no pre-monsoon rain in February and March, summer could be severe this year.
So far, the minimum winter temperature has been around 12.3 degree celsius and has not fallen below 8 degrees. The change in the seasonal pattern due to advancing seasons and unpredictable rain has affected our health, leading to a rise in viral fever and asthma cases in the city.
Physician Dr L Narendra Prasad said viral and bacterial diseases and respiratory infections like cold, cough, arthritis or joint disorder, allergy and skin ailments worsen during winter.