The festival of colours is celebrated to mark the arrival of spring but this year it came to denote sweltering heat with the city’s March temperature crossing a three-year high.
The temperature sprang up to 39°C during the day -the highest so far in the month. This follows the prediction of the India Meterological Department (IMD) that had issued a forecast of temperatures firming up in March.
Thursday’s high also comes in the wake of the World Meteorological Organization declaring 2015 as the world’s hottest year on record by a wide margin.
In fact, the highest temperature of the day was twice as much as the day’s lowest temperature -17.3°C.
However, the nights don’t feel as cool since the day’s heat continues to linger in the atmosphere and leads to a warm experience even during the night hours. Day temperatures were above normal in some parts of Marathwada and Vidarbha as well. In central Maharashtra, the temperature rose up to two to three degrees celsius above normal.
As per data recorded by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorolo gy (IITM)., till date in March, the ultra violet (UV) radiation index peaked on March 14, reaching almost 9.5 UV radiation. Levels of 10 and above UV radia tion are considered to be “dangerous“ or “extremely risky“ and could cause a sunburn within 30 minutes.
In the coming days, it is predicted that the temperature will stay as high as 38-39°C during the day .
“The probability of rain has now receded but the temperature will continue to rise. Clear sky conditions and anti-cyclone wind pattern without moisture causes solar radiation, due to which the temperature will rise,“ IMD official Sunitha Devi said. She added that by the month-end, the temperature might reach 40°C.
Gufran Beig, project director at System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) and scientist at IITM, said, “The Spring Equinox, which takes place on March 21, has been associated with the rising temperature this year.“
Beig added, “Western India has been much warmer than expected.It is even warmer than northern parts of the country .“
Source : TOI