SHILLONG: Along with other parts of the region and the country state capital Shillong too is in the grip of hot weather while rainfall has been niggardly.
According to the Guwahati-based Regional Meteorological Centre, Shillong city recorded the maximum temperature of 29.2 degree Celsius this season on Monday which is five degrees above normal.
The centre’s website says the weather may continue to remain warm for the next two to three days with maximum temperature touching 28 degrees. Besides, there will be generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers in Shillong.
With the entire region becoming rain-deficit, sale of ice cream and cold drinks has soared while fans too are becoming an increasingly common sight.
A citizen observed that in his 30 years, he has never felt so hot in Shillong till Sunday when the city seemed to be like an oven.
“I have never experienced such heat in Shillong,” the resident said.
After the cold weather for months followed by thunder squalls a month ago, the temperature has suddenly risen in Shillong in the past few days.
The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was in April 1973, when the mercury touched 30.2 degrees Celsius.
With rain playing truant, the water level in the Umiam reservoir too has considerably gone down.
A maximum temperature at around 28 degrees Celsius is considered too hot for a hill station like Shillong, that stands at an altitude of 4,908 feet (1,496m) above sea level, and is known to be a destination providing “plenty of natural air conditioning.”
While people have died in some parts of the country as heat waves swept eastern and central India leading to temperatures rising over 40 degrees Celsius, Shillong too is slowly feeling the heat over the years due to climate change.
After the cold weather for months followed by thunder squalls a month ago, the temperature has suddenly risen in Shillong in the past few days.
