Despite rain, Nagaland experiences marked rise in temperatures

May 26, 2024 24 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 26

Despite rain in isolated pockets, there was a marked rise in temperatures across Nagaland on May 25, as the current “heatwave conditions” in some parts of India reached the neighbouring state of Assam.

With the rise in temperature, citizens also took to various social media platforms to share the temperatures in their locations using weather apps.

However, such conditions were officially confirmed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in the evening, stating that the temperature was above 4-6°Celsius above normal in isolated places in Nagaland.

Furthermore, as of May 25, the minimum temperature was above normal (1.6°C to 3.0°C) at most places in Nagaland, it added.
According to the IMD’s ‘Local Forecast,’ the maximum temperature was recorded at 1:30 PM in Dimapur Sadar, reaching a sizzling 39.03°C.

Other areas in Nagaland bordering Assam also experienced a similar rise in temperature, with Tuli block reporting 38.21°C on May 25, while Mangkolemba Hq had 36.29°C.

Chümoukedima was not far behind, recording 37.36°C at 2:20 PM on Saturday, as per the IMD. State capital Kohima was ‘colder’ at 25.55°C.

Across India, four stations – Cooch Bihar (40.5°C), Itanagar (40.5°C), Lumding (43.0°C), Passighat (39.6°C), and Silchar (40.0°C) reported highest ever maximum temperatures at 5:30 PM on May 25, it said.

The highest maximum temperature in the country was reported at Phalodi (West Rajasthan) at 50.0°C.

The national weather forecaster also informed that heatwave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, and Vidarbha till May 29; West Uttar Pradesh on May 29; East Uttar Pradesh from May 26-28; Chhattisgarh from May 27-29; Gujarat State on May 26; East Madhya Pradesh on May 26 & 29.

‘Fake News’ re-circulates amid rising temperatures
Meanwhile, with rising temperatures, ‘fake news’ and ‘misinformation’ were not far behind, with a circular purportedly issued by the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) making rounds again, warning customers against filling their vehicles’ fuel tanks to the maximum limit as they might explode.

The cause was attributed to increasing temperature.

On April 9, 2022, when such viral messages gained momentum, the IOC itself clarified that the same as “Fake News.”

“Important announcement from #IndianOil. It is perfectly safe to fill fuel in vehicles up to the limit (max) as specified by the manufacturer irrespective of winter or summer,” the IOC then stated on its official Facebook page.

Besides, another viral message was ‘recirculated,’ particularly on WhatsApp, asking people to drink more water due to an impending (false) ‘Equinox,’ or risk dehydration or sunstroke. A similar message circulated in Nagaland on May 2028.

The forecast of widespread rain from May 26 due to Cyclonic Storm “Remal” (pronounced as “Re-Mal”), may bring some respite from the heat in Nagaland. However, with the prediction of ‘very heavy rainfall’ as a result, the region could face potential weather related hazards.