Rain relief for Guwahati reeling from heat

GUWAHATI: A much needed spell of rain on Tuesday evening brought relief to people, particularly those in Guwahati, from the sweltering heat since the last couple of weeks.

The Indian Meteorological Department has forecast that there will be generally cloudy sky with moderate rain over Guwahati and its neighbouring areas and maximum and minimum temperatures are most likely to be 30°C and 24°C respectively for the next 24 hours.

On Tuesday, the maximum temperature recorded was 31.7 degrees Celsius, which was 1.7 degrees Celsius more than normal, while the minimum temperature was 24.3 degrees Celsius, which was 2.8 degrees Celsius more than normal.

The state capital was reeling under heat during the Puja festivities and the maximum temperature had shot up to 37.7 degrees Celsius on Navami and Dashami, making it the hottest day in October since 2009. It was seven degrees above the normal, while the minimum temperature was 25.1 degrees Celsius, two units above the normal.

The average maximum temperature during October in the period between 1981-2010 was 30.6 degrees Celsius.

Met authorities had stated that the rise in temperature was due to the presence of a low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal. Whenever there is a low pressure in the Bay, chances of precipitation in this region goes down. There is less moisture due to the low pressure which results in dry weather post-monsoon. Monsoon in Assam ended with 22% deficit rainfall.

The department’s forecast for the region for the next 24 hours states “moderate rain/thundershowers are very likely to occur at most places over

Arunachal Pradesh

, Assam and

Meghalaya

and at many places over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and

Tripura

.”

The department has warned that thunderstorm with lightning is very likely to occur at isolated places over

Arunachal

Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura while heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Tripura and heavy to very heavy rain is very likely to occur at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya in the next 24 hours.

The maximum temperature on Monday was markedly above normal (5.1°C or more) at many places over Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and Meghalaya.