City gripped by heat wave

The mercury in the capital continues to consistently hover over 40 degree Celsius making life miserable for the public. On Friday, the city recorded a maximum of 42 degree C, a degree or two less than the earlier temperatures recorded in the middle and first week of May. Yet, the impact was notable, as roads wore a deserted look in the afternoon.

While the other parts of Telangana districts are reeling under intense heat wave, with temperatures well over four to five degrees more than the normal, temperatures here are hovering between 40 and 42 degree C since a fortnight. This trend is likely to continue for the next 48 hours, according to the Hyderabad Met Department.

Dry winds, mostly the dry north-westerly winds, are making matters worse. Environmentalists believe that despite less temperature, compared to Telangana districts, the impact of heat in the twin cities is substantial because of the concrete jungle and the phenomena of ‘urban heat islands’. Met Department officials also pointed out that there was a marked continuity of the flow of dry hot north-westerly winds during evenings and nights. They contend that this could be playing a role in ‘warmer’ conditions during night in the twin cities.

“It would take another week or even more for the monsoon to be fully active in the State. However, the worse, in terms of maximum temperatures, is already over because May is ending,” Met officials say.