Bhira hottest in Maha at 45.5 degrees Celsius

Bhira village in Raigad district today remained the hottest place in Maharashtra at 45.5 degrees Celsius, nearly 12 days after it recorded the temperature as high as 46.5 degrees Celsius, according to IMD.
The Indian Meteorological Department reported that Bhira's temperature was 45.5 degrees Celsius with a "departure" (change) of 6.4 degrees Celsius. Its minimum temperature was 23.5 degrees Celsius with the departure of 2 degrees Celsius.
The temperature mapping centre at Bhira near a private dam had recorded the unusually high temperature at 46.5 degrees Celsius on March 28.
However, the IMD had suspected the veracity of the temperature by a temperature mapping centre and decided to conduct an inquiry into the unusual event. Later, the IMD department had said that the unusual temperature could be the effect of "basalt rock radiation" and that it could be "local heat island effect".

While Bhira remained the hottest today, Chandrapur came second with the mercury touching 42.2 degrees Celsius, an IMD official said, adding that Chandrapur in east Maharashtra has a lot of coal reserves which adds to rise in temperature.
"There will be slight rise in temperature in the next 48 hours starting today afternoon. But, it will not be a heat wave. The rise in temperature by a couple of degrees Celsius is considered normal. We are watching the situation and will come to know about next alerts after that," A K Srivastava, Head, Climate Monitoring and Analysis Group, IMD told PTI.

He said that areas like Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat would witness a moderate heat wave in the next 48 hours.

"In subsequent days, Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will also face moderate heat waves," Srivastava said.
Jalgaon in north Maharashtra, which is generally known for recording higher temperature in the state, today reported a maximum drop in its minimum temperature, as per the IMD data.
The district has reported 17.6 degrees Celsius as its minimum temperature with the departure of -5.1 degrees Celsius, which is the highest in the state. Its maximum temperature was 41 degrees Celsius with a departure of 0.4 degree Celsius.

Akola and Wardha, two major districts in east Maharashtra, that mostly report higher temperature, recorded temperature at 41.4 degrees Celsius and 40.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The arid region of Ahmednagar today reported lowest temperature in the state at 16.4 degrees Celsius, with the departure in minimum temperature at -4 degrees Celsius. This means the recorded temperature is lower by four degrees Celsius compared to its last 30 years' normal temperature. Its maximum temperature was 41.2 degrees Celsius.