The city recorded 39 degrees Celsius on Thursday — the hottest day this year.
The maximum humidity in the city was 67.6 per cent. So far this year, the highest temperature recorded in Guwahati was 37.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
An official of the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) here said: “Maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius recorded on Thursday is the highest ever in the month of June. Earlier, 38.8 degrees Celsius was recorded on June 12, 2013. The temperature is likely to come down from Friday.”
“The humidity level on Thursday was low compared to that in the previous days here. The highest humidity level was 85 per cent on June 7. The ideal relative humidity for health and comfort is about 40 to 50 per cent,” he added.
Due to humidity, RealFeel was more than the real temperature. RealFeel reflects the impact of heat and humidity on the skin. The ideal relative humidity is around 40-50 per cent.
As the temperature soared on Thursday, seasonal fruits and juices, such as watermelons, coconut water and lemonade, were in great demand. Very few pedestrians were seen in the daytime.
With fruits and drinks becoming the only options to beat the heat, the cost of seasonal fruits has doubled in the past week.
Umesh Bharali, who has been selling green coconut in the city for 20 years, said: “When the temperature is high, 700 to 800 green coconuts, each costing Rs 50, are sold in a day. Now, the supply is limited. So the price has increased. Earlier, it used to be Rs 25 per fruit.”
Sumi Adhikari, a lemon-juice vendor near Meghdoot Bhawan, said she had served nearly 300 customers in a week. As the mercury soared, most of the people used air- conditioned cabs as the preferred mode of transport.
The maximum temperature on Thursday in other parts of the state was 38.4 degrees Celsius in North Lakhimpur, 37.2 degrees Celsius in Silchar, 36.7 degrees Celsius in Dhubri and 36.6 degrees Celsius in Dibrugarh.
“Generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of thundershowers are likely to occur in Guwahati on Friday. Thundershowers are also very likely at many places over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura,” the RMC official said.
