Heatwave Alert: Kanpur records 41°C (51°C) heat wave; heat index breaks records. What will happen in May-June?:Heat index expected to reach 57°C, extremely dangerous.

News Topical, Digital Desk : In April, Kanpur's heat has already begun to feel as intense as in May or June. On Wednesday, the city's maximum temperature was recorded at 40.9 degrees Celsius, but due to the bright sun, humidity, and hot surface winds, people felt the temperature as high as 45 degrees.

At the weather station located at the Indian Air Force station, it was even worse. With the maximum temperature being 42 degrees and humidity being 35 percent, the heat index reached 51 degrees. Due to which people felt the heat more scorching than the current temperature. According to weather experts, in the coming days, as the temperature of the city will increase and the humidity will be 30 to 50 percent, the heat index will reach 57 degrees, which is considered to be in the extremely dangerous category. The minimum temperature was recorded at 22.4 degrees Celsius, which was 0.4 percent higher than Tuesday. Due to the intense heat and humidity throughout the day, traffic in the markets and streets remained low during the afternoon. People left their homes only for essential purposes. Crowds were seen at many cold drink and water shops. The hot air made most parts of the city quiet in the afternoon.
Weather expert Dr. SN Sunil Pandey said that the scorching heat in the month of April itself has increased the problems of the people. The weather will remain dry in the entire region for the next five days. There is a possibility of heat wave on 24 and 25 April, due to which the temperature can reach up to 44 degrees Celsius. In such a situation, the heat index will also increase. The sun shone brightly since Wednesday morning, due to which the heat remained intense. In the afternoon, due to the effect of the scorching heat and heat wave, the roads appeared deserted. Going out during the day can be risky due to the scorching sun and hot wind. Especially in the afternoon, the effect of heat wave will be more.

What is the heat index?

The heat index is an index that measures the combined effect of actual temperature and humidity. This index indicates how hot people actually feel. Dr. SN Sunil Pandey explained that the heat index is calculated based on the moisture content in the air. When humidity is high, sweat doesn't evaporate quickly, making the body feel hotter than the actual temperature. For example, if the city temperature is 35 degrees and the humidity is 70 percent, the heat index would be 51 degrees, which makes the body feel hotter. Dr. Pandey explained that Kanpur's heat index has seen a significant increase in the past five years. This increase is not only due to rising temperatures, but also due to the increased humidity in the air, making the perceived temperature even more uncomfortable.