At 43.5 deg C, Jammu records hottest day of May in past 3 years

Heatwave further intensified in Jammu and adjoining areas today as the city of temples recorded the hottest day of the season with mercury touching 43.5 degrees Celsius.

A spokesperson for the MeT department said, today was the hottest day in the month of May for the past three years.

Jammu has recorded the highest day temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius on May 20, 2016. It was 41.7 degrees Celsius on May 27 last year, the maximum for the year.

The maximum temperature today recorded an increase of 1.2 notches compared to yesterday to settle at 43.5 degrees Celsius, which is 4.4 notches above normal for this part of the season, the spokesman said.

Earlier, the state government had ordered closure of schools on May 28 and rescheduled the summer vacation in view of the prevailing heat wave conditions which is likely to continue till June 2.

However, several private schools have flaunted the government order and continued with their normal routine despite requests from the parents.

The spokesman said the night temperature in the city also registered a slight increase to settle at 25.8 degrees Celsius -- 0.9 notches above normal for this part of the season.

Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the famous shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, in Reasi district also saw the day temperature crossing the 40-degrees Celsius mark for the first time this season today.

The town recorded a high of 40.7 degrees Celsius, 5.1 notches above normal, and a low of 24.4 degrees Celsius, which is 2.8 degrees above normal, the spokesman said.