Vidarbha in for a scorcher next week as humidity may rise

Nagpur: With an increase in humidity, the heat index of Vidarbha might witness a rise in the coming week.
Heat index is a composite of temperature and humidity to arrive at ‘real feel’ value. As reported by TOI, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) launched the index across the country on an experimental basis last month. The same is being followed by Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Nagpur.
According to the met officials, the region, particularly West Vidarbha, might experience a high heat index. “Usually, Vidarbha does not get much humidity during summers. However this time, the moisture laden wind prevailing from Arabian Sea will most probably lead to an increase in humidity. This is likely to cause more discomfort to people,” they said.
While relative humidity and heat is empirically responsible for the derivation of heat index, heatwave conditions are defined based only on the mercury levels. At present, the met department has not issued a heatwave warning for the region.
However, a warning for thunderstorm with light rainfall was issued on Thursday for isolated places over Amravati, Nagpur and Gondia.
On the same day, Nagpur recorded a maximum temperature of 42.2 degree Celsius while its minimum was 27.2. Wardha was the hottest in Vidarbha with a maximum temperature of 43 degree Celsius, closely followed by Akola and Amravati at 42.6 degree Celsius.
Maximum temperatures are expected to be between 41-44 degree Celsius in the coming week.
While the IMD has predicted that the onset of monsoon over Kerala is likely to be slightly delayed this year and will arrive on June 4, the met department is yet to declare the onset date for Vidarbha.
Till now, Nagpur has recorded the hottest day of this year on May 14 with the maximum temperature soaring to 44.3 degree Celsius. This was 1.3 degrees above the normal mercury level.