No respite from heat soon

KOLKATA: April is turning out to be crueller than ever before. The scorching summer heat left Kolkatans huffing and puffing for the fourth day in a row with the weather getting even more uncomfortable on Tuesday. The temperature was a degree more than on Monday 40 degree Celsius but it was the humidity that left Kolkatans panting for breath. The two combined to make it a long, hot day.
While the maximum humidity was 89% on Tuesday lower than Monday's 91% the minimum was 45%. Weathermen had no soothing predictions either. It will continue to be just as hot and the discomfort factor could rise even further. The reason: a strong anti-cyclonic formation moving through central parts of the country towards the east.
It has resulted in hot winds flowing in the form of northwesterlies and westerlies, sweeping south Bengal. "The effect has been heightened by low moisture content in the lower troposphere," said a met official. The condition is likely to continue for the next 24 hours, at least.
Even though Tuesday was not the season's hottest day, it was certainly the most uncomfortable. Streets got deserted by late morning as people started scurrying for shade. Soft drink and lassi sales were brisk. Buses and taxis kept waiting for passengers. Few hit the road, braving the merciless sun.
The discomfort index that had touched 60.2 degree Celsius on Monday five degrees above normal was believed to be higher. On Sunday, it had crossed 64o. It is calculated by drawing an empirical relationship between temperature and humidity.
"The temperature is not the only indicator. In cities like Kolkata, where humidity is very high, discomfort is often more when humidity shoots up even as the temperature remains constant," said Gautam Sen of the School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University. The minimum temperature was 28.4 degree Celsius on Tuesday.