Delhi temperature hits 52.9C, shattering India’s national record

schizoidman@lemmy.ml to World News@lemmy.world – 277 points – Delhi temperature hits 52.9C, shattering India’s national record
theguardian.com

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/16243336

Delhi temperature hits 52.9C, shattering India’s national record

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I don't see humidity mentioned in the article, that's the real killer once the temperature gets up above body temperature. If humidity is high then evaporating water isn't going to effectively cool a person and the only way to survive is to get into air conditioning or other artificially low-temperature safe zones. Temperatures like this are more often seen in arid places, I dread the time something like this hits a major tropical urban area when it's humid. We could see megadeaths.

Looking at their current 10 day forecast doesn't look very pleasant either

The coldest 2 days are going to be 42C (about 107F) with lows close to 30C (about 86F)

When I looked (about 10am for them) it was about 37C (about 100F) with a 31% humidity.

It's a fuckin disaster over there with multiple days predicting 45C as the high.

Only people with AC (or deep basements?) would be save... as long as they have electricity.

Makes me wonder what would happen in a mega city like Delhi, when the weather get's lethal. Will people storm places with AC or will they be apathetic (like starving people).

I hope we won't find out! But at least heat shelters will probably become normal.

Also, people with running water. The cold tap can get quite warm in some places but 38C, I don't think so.

Good point. I haven't thought of that. Boy do I hope it will never come this. I don't think the city's water supply would last long.