Heatwave alert issued for Kanpur division as temperature may touch 45°C

Kanpur: Residents of Kanpur Division are likely to face severe heatwave conditions from May 16 onward, with temperatures expected to hover between 42°C and 45°C in the coming days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave alert for several parts of Uttar Pradesh, warning that temperatures are rising rapidly and hot winds are expected to prevail during the week.

Weather expert Dr S Sunil Pandey of Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology said that heatwave conditions are likely to continue till May 20 and could persist beyond that period as well.

As forecast by the IMD, bright sunshine and clear skies prevailed across the city on Thursday, contributing to rising temperatures.

The Air Force Chakeri observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 41.3°C, while the observatory at CSA University and other city weather centres recorded a maximum of 39.3°C. The temperature remained nearly equal to Wednesday’s reading and stood 1.1°C above normal.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature dropped to 23°C, making night conditions comparatively cooler.

North-westerly winds blowing at speeds between 5.1 kmph and 7.3 kmph, combined with maximum relative humidity of 50%, pushed the “feels-like” temperature close to 43°C, causing discomfort to residents.

According to the IMD forecast, dry weather and strong sunshine are expected to continue across Kanpur Division on Friday, with daytime temperatures likely to rise further during the coming week.

Dr Pandey advised people to remain hydrated and avoid going outdoors during afternoon hours. Elderly people and vulnerable individuals have been advised to stay indoors in cool environments as far as possible.

He further warned that symptoms such as severe headache, dizziness, vomiting, excessive sweating or fainting could indicate heatstroke. In such situations, the affected person should immediately be shifted to a cool or shaded area, the body should be wiped with a wet cloth and medical help should be sought without delay.