City braces for blistering weekend as mercury soars

Kanpur: Even as residents of Kanpur division experienced marginal relief from the blistering heat on Friday, the respite is unlikely to last long, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting maximum temperatures between 43°C and 45°C over the next 24 hours.According to the IMD, the sky is expected to remain clear and weather conditions will continue to stay extremely hot across the division. Heatwave conditions are likely to intensify during the day under strong sunshine, while warm nights may offer little relief.The minimum temperature is expected to hover between 27°C and 32°C. The weather department has advised people to avoid venturing out during peak afternoon hours and stay adequately hydrated.The observatory at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA) recorded a maximum temperature of 42.5°C and a minimum of 26.4°C on Friday. North Westerly winds, which remained slow in the morning, gathered pace later in the day, blowing at speeds ranging from 6.7 kmph to 13.1 kmph.With relative humidity recorded at 35%, hot winds further intensified discomfort, forcing many residents to remain indoors.Weather expert Dr S N Sunil Pandey of CSA University said north-westerly winds are likely to blow at speeds of 15-20 kmph, worsening heatwave conditions in the city.“The UV index is extremely high and the heat index is making temperatures feel close to 45°C,” he said, adding that light dust and haziness may prevail during the daytime.Dr Pandey advised residents to avoid direct exposure to sunlight between noon and 4 pm. He also urged people to consume water, ORS and buttermilk regularly, even if they do not feel thirsty. Wearing light-coloured cotton clothes and keeping the head covered while stepping outdoors can help minimise heat-related stress, he added.