Nagpur: Amravati recorded a maximum temperature of 42.2°C, nearly 6.8°C above normal and emerged as the country’s hottest place on Thursday as parts of Vidarbha reeled under heat wave with temperatures soaring well above the seasonal average. Amravati was closely followed by Akola, where the mercury touched 42°C, also under heat wave conditions.Several other districts in the region reported temperatures crossing the 40°C mark. Bramhapuri recorded 40.8°C, while Chandrapur and Wardha reported around 40.2°C each. Yavatmal too touched 40°C, highlighting the widespread heat across eastern Maharashtra.In Nagpur, the maximum temperature rose to 39°C, the highest of the season so far. Despite being slightly below the 40°C mark, the heat felt intense during the afternoon hours, with several major roads witnessing thin traffic as residents preferred to stay indoors to avoid the scorching conditions.The early surge in temperatures caused discomfort for residents across the region, especially schoolchildren, as daytime temperatures approached 40°C by noon. Meteorological data shows that many locations in Vidarbha recorded temperatures 4-7°C above normal, indicating strong heat wave conditions.However, some relief may be on the horizon. Weather officials said districts such as Gadchiroli and Chandrapur are likely to experience gusty winds and thunderstorms from Friday, which could bring down temperatures. The weather system is expected to gradually influence most districts of Vidarbha, bringing cloudiness, gusty winds, and isolated thundershowers. This change in conditions may offer temporary respite to residents until around March 15, after several days of intense heat across the region.
