Guwahati records highest-ever temperature in last 70 years history

Guwahati: After battling with excess rainfall followed by worst floods and along with the ongoing fight with pandemic COVID 19, Assam is now sweltering with intense heat. The capital city of Dispur (Guwahati) on Wednesday (August 5) recorded the highest ever August month temperature in the history.

The city recorded a maximum of 38.6 degree Celsius which is a 6-degree departure from the normal temperature and a minimum of 27.8 degree Celsius which is a 2-degree departure from the normal temperature. The last highest maximum temperature was recorded on 25 August 2016 and the highest minimum temperature was recorded on 21 August 2016 which was 21.8 degree Celsius.

Deputy Director-General of Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati Dr Sanjay Oniel told Times Now that this is the highest maximum and minimum temperature recorded in the city of Guwahati ever since a meteorological centre was established in Guwahati way back on 23 July 1949 which is 70 years down the line.

So without official records, today's August month temperature may be the highest in more than 70 years. Apart from the scorching heat, Guwahati on August 5 recorded a humidity level of 59% at 8:30 AM in the morning and 64% at 5:30 PM and the city has recorded not a single drop of rainfall in the past 48 hours.

On the other hand, hill station Shillong in the state of Meghalaya which is known as a natural Air Conditioning city on August 5 recorded a maximum of 28.1 degree Celsius which is a 4-degree departure from normal temperature and a minimum of 20.3 degree Celsius which is a departure of 3-degree from the normal temperature. Shillong also recorded the highest ever August month minimum temperature in history.

The hill station received no rainfall in the past 24 hours on August 5 and recorded a humidity of 63% at 8:30 AM in the morning and 69% at 5:30 PM. According to DDG, RMC Guwahati Dr Sanjay Oniel, the intense heat conditions and no rainfall over Assam and North East India is due to the disturbance over the Bay of Bengal which is sucking the moisture and the clouds from the region and lashing Western and Southern part of India with excess rainfall.

Dr Oniel further said that the intense heat and no rainfall activities over North East India may prevail for another 24 hours after which rainfall is expected and which is likely to give ease from the present scorching heat.