City sweats out at 43.1 degrees

The city is sweltering under the summer sun with the maximum temperature touching 43.1ºC on Saturday, the highest in this season.

Officials from the city meteorological department have predicted the possibility of severe heat wave conditions in city if the high temperatures persist for the next two days. The city had last suffered heat wave conditions in 2003 and 2005.

Mercury soared high and is hovering above 40ºC at a number of places in the State as a result of dry north-westerly winds blowing from the Thar Desert in Rajasthan and from Maharashtra.
Districts such as Adilabad, Ramgundam and Rentachintala are already in the grip of heat wave and the maximum temperature may touch 45ºC if the dry winds continue.

Temperatures are two to three degrees above normal in several places in Guntur, Krishna, Prakasam, Nellore, Nalgonda and Warangal districts. Last year, the highest maximum temperature recorded in city was 41.9ºC in May end but this time the temperature had already crossed 43.1ºC on Saturday.

“It is not possible to predict whether there would be any sudden fall in temperature after two days,” said Mr Subbarao, assistant meteorologist of Hyderabad. “Fall or rise in temperature depends on the change in wind pattern.”

On Friday, the maximum temperatures rose at a few places over Telangana, at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and changed little over Rayalaseema. They were significantly above normal at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, above normal over Rayalaseema and in the remaining districts of Telangana. The highest maximum temperature of 46ºC was recorded at Adilabad and Rentachintala.