Heat on: Mercury soars above normal in city

Kanpur: The city is already feeling the heat, with the maximum and minimum temperatures soaring above normal on Friday. According to the Met department, a gradual increase in the temperature is possible in the coming days. According to IMD, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 28.5 degrees Celsius — 3.2 degrees above normal on Friday. On Thursday, the maximum temperature was 27 degrees C. Similarly, the minimum temperature was 12.8 degrees C — 2.7 degrees C above the normal. The maximum and minimum relative humidity was 94% and 41%. According to the Met department, a gradual increase in the temperature is possible in the coming days.
A sharp rise in temperature across north India, including Kanpur division, in Feb has been attributed to weak western disturbances.According to the weather expert at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Sunil Pandey, the number of western disturbances during winters remained significantly low, and a few of which occurred were weak. "Western disturbances generally bring rainfall and snowfall, which help regulate temperature. Their absence this year resulted in dry conditions and heat," he said.Talking to TOI, Pandey explained that clear skies throughout the day allowed direct solar radiation to heat the ground rapidly. He added that the chilly northerly winds, which usually reach the plains during winter, weakened and were replaced by dry and warm westerly winds, resulting in ‘early summer.' Activation of western disturbances in Feb plays a crucial role in maintaining cold conditions through cloud cover, rainfall, and humidity, said the experts. However, this year, their weak activity failed to curb the rising temperature. IMD officials believe that insufficient rainfall and prolonged clear skies allowed the sun's rays to fall directly on the surface, leading to a rapid increase in daytime temperature and an unusually early end to winter.They also pointed out that during El Niño years, winters in the Indian subcontinent tend to be milder, with bright sunshine and lower atmospheric moisture. A similar pattern was observed this year, contributing significantly to warmer-than-normal Feb. The unusually hot Feb has raised concerns for the coming months. Early assessments suggest that heatwave conditions may begin earlier than usual in March, with temperatures likely to touch 35 to 38 degrees Celsius in several parts of north India. Meteorologists warned that peak summer months of April and May could be harsher than usual, and 2026 may rank among the hottest years for the country if the current trend continues. Rising temperatures at the tail end of winter are also expected to increase heat stress, posing challenges for public health, agriculture, and the economy. Farmers will require more irrigation, increasing the cost on water management.