Mercury breaches 40°C mark in city

CHANDIGARH : City’s maximum temperature crossed the 40 degrees Celsius mark on Friday, touching 41.9 degrees, four notches above normal.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the mercury will continue to rise further in the coming days.

Scientist at IMD Chandigarh, Shivinder Singh said, “Earlier North-Westerly winds from Pakistan and Kashmir were blowing in the region, keeping it cool. But, now winds from Rajasthan had made their way to the city, causing a considerable increase in the temperature.”

Singh added that the dry spell in the region will contribute to the rise in temperature. “Cyclone Amphan, though far from the north, drew in winds from across the region and drained out the moisture. This has led to heat waves in some parts of India.”

Heat wave in plains is declared when the maximum temperature goes over 45 degrees or is 4.5 degrees above normal. HTC