Heatstroke warning as mercury rises beyond 50ᵒC

[reader]

From The Nation

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned people to beware of heatstroke as the mercury is expected to rise beyond 50 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country.

TMD said Chonburi will be the hottest city in the East of Thailand on Sunday, with the temperature hitting 53ᵒC. In Bangkok, the hottest district will be Bang Na, which will hit 52.7ᵒC.

The hottest city in the Northeast is Kosum Phisai district in Maha Sarakham with 46ᵒC, while Phuket in the South hit 51.1ᵒC.

[vinapu]

I'm glad to be home

[Lucky]

53 Celsius equates to 127 Fahrenheit! Too hot for anyone!

123 is the hottest I have experienced.

[tm_nyc]

'Can't see that the numbers cited can possibly be correct.  I googled & the high temp in BKK was 39° C on Sunday.  Yes, that's really hot but I don't see the point of claiming it's much worse than it really is.

[fedssocr]

I presume those are heat index or "feels like" temps, not actual air temps

[reader]

It does appear that the Bangkok press is frequently reporting heat index temps without noting the difference.

Here's an article from the BBC featuring the actual Celsius temps around SE Asia that puts the situation into a better perspective.

From the BBC

Climate change: Vietnam records highest-ever temperature of 44.1C

Vietnam has recorded its highest ever temperature, just over 44C (111F) - with experts predicting it would soon be surpassed because of climate change.

The record was set in the northern province of Thanh Hoa, where officials warned people to stay indoors during the hottest times of the day.

Other countries in the region have also been experiencing extremely hot weather.

Thailand reported a record-equalling 44.6C in its western Mak province.

Meanwhile Myanmar's media reported that a town in the east had recorded 43.8C, the highest temperature for a decade.

Both countries experience a hot period before the monsoon season but the intensity of the heat has broken previous records.

In Hanoi, climate change expert Nguyen Ngoc Huy told AFP that Vietnam's new record was "worrying" given the "context of climate change and global warming".

"I believe this record will be repeated many times," he said. "It confirms that extreme climate models are being proven to be true."

The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments make steep cuts to emissions.

In Vietnam's central city of Danang, farmer Nguyen Thi Lan told AFP the heat was forcing workers to start earlier than ever and finish by 10:00.

Vietnam's previous record temperature of 43.4C was set in central Ha Tinh province four years ago.

Further west, the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka recorded its highest temperature since the 1960s while Indian authorities said parts of the country were experiencing temperatures that were three or four degrees above normal.

[thaiophilus]

"western Mak province" ?

I suppose they mean Tak.