With a heatwave sweeping through Tamil Nadu, Karur and Dharmapuri have soared past the 40-degree Celsius mark, according to the India Meteorological Department’s Chennai office. These districts recorded maximum temperatures of 41.0 degrees Celsius and 40.7 degrees Celsius, respectively.
What is a Heatwave?
A heatwave is a weather phenomenon characterized by exceptionally high air temperatures that can pose a severe risk to human health when exposed. Its definition typically depends on specific temperature thresholds within a region, either in absolute terms or relative to normal temperatures.
In some countries, it is determined using the heat index, which factors in both temperature and humidity, or by considering extreme temperature percentiles. Generally, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature in a particular area reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius for plains and at least 30 degrees Celsius for hilly regions.
IMD’s Forecaste
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that heatwave conditions were expected to persist in certain parts of eastern and peninsular India until today. Regions likely to experience heatwaves included Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Vidarbha, North Interior Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, and Telangana.
IMD advised individuals to minimize exposure to heat by wearing lightweight, light-colored, loose cotton clothing, covering their heads, and using a cloth, hat, or umbrella for additional protection.
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