Ludhiana: Residents grappled with intense heat on Monday as maximum temperature hovered around the 40 degrees Celsius mark. The meteorological department has issued a heatwave alert for the district for the next few days.According to the Met department, maximum (day) temperature in Ludhiana was recorded at 39.4 degrees Celsius, which is 3.9 degrees Celsius above normal, but 0.6 degrees lower than the previous day. On Sunday, Ludhiana recorded its highest day temperature of the year so far. Clear skies contributed to the intense heat as the sun blazed with no cloud cover to mellow it down. Minimum (night) temperature was recorded at 19.6 degrees Celsius, which is 1.6 degrees above normal and 0.6 degrees higher than the day before.With temperature surging several degrees above normal, the meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for Ludhiana district for the next four days, warning of heat wave conditions. A yellow alert is issued to keep various departments updated and prepared for adverse weather conditions.The department has forecast mainly clear skies on Tuesday and partly cloudy conditions for the following three days. The outlook for Saturday and Sunday indicates mainly clear skies as well.As per forecasts available on the Met department website, maximum temperature is expected to rise further, reaching 43 degrees Celsius by Thursday. Day temperature is likely to remain around that level over the subsequent days. Minimum temperature is also expected to increase, reaching 24 degrees Celsius by Thursday, remaining constant over the next two days and possibly rising to 25 degrees Celsius by Sunday.Residents said the heat has significantly affected daily routines. Sanjay Kumar, a city resident, said the sun was particularly harsh in the daytime, prompting him to stay indoors. He added that he stepped out only in the evening to attend to essential work.A few residents said they were considering short trips to cooler destinations. With the heat wave warning in place, residents have been advised to avoid direct exposure to the sun during peak hours and take necessary precautions to stay hydrated.
