Temperatures likely to reach 40 C in April

Yangon March 13

The day temperatures in three cities, Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw will reach 40 degree centigrade by the end of this month, according to Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

“Day temperatures in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw stood at 37 degree centigrade on March 11 as Mandalay saw 38 degree centigrade on the same day. Temperatures will remain high throughout the summer,” said U Kyaw Moe Oo, deputy director general of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

“The temperatures are not that high for the time being just because some clouds from Bay of Bengal are crossing through Myanmar. But, temperatures will get higher on the days to come and, if and when the temperature reach 40 degree centigrade, public should strictly follow the instructions of the Health Ministry,” he said.

Meanwhile, day temperatures reached over 40 degree centigrade in some towns in Central Myanmar, usually dubbed as dry zone. Chauk saw 43 degree centigrade on March 11 whereas temperatures were 41 degree centigrade in Magway and 40 degree centigrade in Myingyan, NyaungU, Yamaethin, and Minbu Townships, according to Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

“Mandalay and Magway Regions have seen 3 degree centigrade above the average temperatures in March, but temperatures are 3 degree centigrade lower than average in Kachin State and are just the average in other regions and states,” said the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology.

The department expects that day temperatures may increase slightly in Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing, Mandalay, Magway, Bago, Yangon and Ayeyarwady Regions.

Regarding the talk that household thermometers read over 40 degree centigrade, he said: “Those thermometers are ordinary ones. There is usually three to four degree of differential between our meteorological thermometers and ordinary ones. Thermometers used by our department can’t be just put on the street and measured, ours have to be kept in a cage with good ventilation.”

The Myawady Daily