India had it's hottest day ever recorded this week. The pre-monsoon heat is even more severe this year for the northern states.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced a new all time maximum temperature of 51.0 Celsius yesterday May 19th 2016. Pre-monsoon heat is an extreme event every year, as the entire country await the vital rains.
In the far NW, Phalodi, Jodhpur in Rajasthan northern India, sitting in hot westerly winds, broke the record as people remained inside and hospitals readied themselves for more heatstroke and dehydration patients.
The previous record had stood since 1956 Alwar at 50.6 degrees Celsius, also in Rajasthan but further NE towards New Delhi and for Pachpadra back in 1886.
According to Laxman Singh Rathore, Director General, IMD, Delhi, "It has been observed that since 2001, places in northern India, especially in Rajasthan, are witnessing a rising temperature trend every year. The main reason is the excessive use of energy and emission of carbon dioxide. Factors like urbanization and industrialization too have added to the global warming phenomenon. I think similar trend would be maintained in Rajasthan in coming days.
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IMD warnings today state - Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions very likely at a few places over Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat
The Pakistan Met.Dept reported 52C in Larkana yesterday too, with their record being over 53C. Bear in mind our top UK record is 38.5C, its quite hard to imagine this extreme dry heat of southern Asia.
