Dehradun residents on Tuesday wilted under intense heatwave conditions as the mercury shot up to the season’s highest — 40.8 degrees celsius, crossing 40.1 degrees mark reported in the last week of May.
Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre has forecasted further rise in the mercury on Wednesday as it crossed 40 degrees Celsius in Dehradun on Tuesday. As per the forecast, the maximum temperature might surge to 41 degrees and more on Wednesday. Doon residents will have to put up with the raging summer heat for a few more days, said the Met officials. However, there is possibility of western disturbance-spawned rains at isolated places on June 13 and June 14.
Uttarakhand Meteorological Centre director Anand Sharma advised the people to take all sorts of precautions while setting out to avoid heat strokes. Besides, he asked the people to shun the roads from 11 am to 3 pm unless they are compelled to move out. The searing heat has increased the possibility of fire in forest areas, he said, adding that the forest officials should be on their guard to stop such fires if possible. He also advised the people to drink water adequately from time to time to spare themselves the summer woes.
Sharma further said that the forecast for Uttarakhand on Wednesday is dry weather. The heat wave condition would continue at isolated places, especially in the plains, he said.
The rise in the mercury on Tuesday has affected life in various places in the State. The sun blazed throughout the day, forcing the people to confine themselves to their respective offices and homes on Tuesday. With the mercury on the rise, traffic considerably thinned. Many of the city roads wore a deserted look in the afternoon.
Sharma said that the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 40.8 °C and 24.6°C respectively in Dehradun on Tuesday. The weather forecast for Dehradun on Wednesday is mainly clear sky becoming partly cloudy towards afternoon/evening. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 41°C and 25°C respectively on Wednesday, it is learnt.