Kanpur: The brief morning relief from light drizzle and cloud cover vanished by noon as bright sunshine pushed the mercury to 39.1 degrees Celsius in the Kanpur division on Friday, leaving residents sweating and forcing many to stay indoors during the afternoon hours.
Heat Index Makes It Feel Like 44°C
Although the maximum temperature remained nearly stagnant at around 40°C, the high heat index made people feel as if the temperature was hovering near 44°C. The minimum temperature also saw a sharp rise, settling at 26°C—almost 3 degrees above Thursday’s minimum—indicating that nights are no longer providing relief from the heat.
Humidity and Winds Add to Discomfort
According to the weather observatory of CSA University, maximum relative humidity rose to 75%, resulting in slow evaporation of sweat and making weather conditions uncomfortable. North-westerly winds blowing at speeds between 4.4 kmph and 6.2 kmph further added to heatwave-like conditions in the city.
IMD Forecast: Severe Heatwave Till May 20
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that the mercury is expected to rise further, and residents of the Kanpur division may have to face severe heatwave conditions until at least May 20. The forecast says dry weather coupled with bright sunshine is likely to continue across the Kanpur division in the coming days.
Weather Systems and Warnings
Dr. S N Sunil Pandey, weather expert at CSA University, said that a “Heat Low”—a warm low-pressure area—remains active over Central India and parts of Northwest India. As a result, severe heat and heatwave conditions persist across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. He also noted that several significant weather systems are currently active across the country under the influence of pre-monsoon conditions and a western disturbance, leading to major weather changes.
A warning has also been issued regarding strong winds gusting up to 80 kmph in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, and western parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Kanpur and Bundelkhand.
