Temperatures across Delhi have been on the rise and a red alert has been issued in various parts of North India. Moist easterly winds ushered in humidity that made the day perceptibly uncomfortable. Although there was a 2.4-degree drop in the maximum temperature on Thursday, relief from the heat is not expected anytime soon.
According to reports the real feel temperature of Delhi has been recorded at 50 degrees Celsius. On Wednesday it was recorded at 55 degrees celsius.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the easterlies, which bring moisture from the Bay of Bengal, are expected to continue till Saturday. This may lead to heatwave conditions returning to isolated parts of Delhi.
Kuldeep Srivastava, IMD Scientist told Hindustan Times, "Easterly winds began to impact Delhi from Tuesday and gained strength on Wednesday when the HI crossed 55°C. Despite strong wind speed on Thursday, which led to a drop in Delhi’s maximum temperature, the HI remained high as there was a lot of moisture in the air."
'Real Feel' temperature is an index that measures how the temperature really feels like to the human body.
For instance, you may experience unusually high levels of heat despite the official temperature forecast indicating a 'normal' range. If the humidity of the area is high, you may feel hot, despite the temperature being low.
Another example is, that you may automatically feel colder, even if the temperature may not be so low.
During the summer season, be aware of what you eat. Make sure to stay away from processed foods like potato chips and pretzels as they can lead to dehydration due to their high sodium content.
One should also avoid having sausages and deli meats as they contain preservatives and sodium, which can reduce water retention.
Coffee and energy drinks should also be limited during the heat wave.
Also watch: Shah Rukh Khan suffers dehydration, here are foods and drinks to avoid during summer to stay safe