The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for warm nights from May 25 to 27 for the city that has been experiencing similar nights for around a week. The minimum temperature or the lowest temperature during the night has been above normal in the city for over a week now.
When the minimum temperature rises by over 4.6 degrees Celsius to 6° Celsius , it is called a warm night, according to IMD’s Chandigarh centre director Surender Paul. If the departure temperature (difference between observed temperature and the normal one) is more than 6° Celsius, it is called a severe warm night. The recorded minimum temperature on Saturday was 27.8° Celsius . It is expected only to rise in the coming week and stay above 29° Celsius from May 26.
The earth releases the heat accumulated during the day at night in a phenomenon which is called radiation cooling. But when the maximum temperature or the daytime temperature rises above the normal 40° Celsius, the earth can’t cool off enough in the night before the sun rises again and the temperature shoots up. This is how the nights also become warmer.
A western disturbance is expected in the region by May end, and it may bring relief in Ludhiana as well. But before that, there hasn’t a prediction of any rain that could bring the temperatures to near or below normal, according to the director.
{{/usCountry}}A western disturbance is expected in the region by May end, and it may bring relief in Ludhiana as well. But before that, there hasn’t a prediction of any rain that could bring the temperatures to near or below normal, according to the director.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier this week, the local health department had issued an advisory in the wake of the heatwave.
Meanwhile, a strong thunderstorm swept through the city on Saturday evening, bringing relief from the heat.