Uganda's temperatures reach 38
TEMPERATURES have risen to their highest compared to past records, the meteorology department has said, writes <b>Charles Ariko.</b>
TEMPERATURES have risen to their highest compared to past records, the meteorology department has said, writes Charles Ariko.
The department said according to records available at various weather stations in the country, some districts have recorded high temperatures surpassing extreme temperatures recorded over a period of 30-40 years
A statement issued by the department said, “The month of February has seen many areas of Uganda experiencing extremely high temperatures. It should be noted that February is one of the months when most stations in the country record their highest temperatures of the year.â€
An official in the department said the temperatures were expected to go higher as the sun, which is currently in the southern hemisphere, moves closer to the Equator.
The department however said the current high temperatures are within the range normally experienced when there are climate changes. Climate changes occur after about 30 years.
The latest temperature readings taken on Feb-20 indicate Kitgum as the hottest district with temperatures standing at 38.5 degrees centigrade.
Kitgum was followed by Tororo (38.2), which surpassed its record of (36.4) previously recorded as the most extreme temperature in the district between 1930-1970.
Temperatures at Kasese district stood at (37.5) compared to a previous record of (36.0), Soroti (37.0) and Masindi (36.6), Arua (37.0) from a previous record of (36.1) and Jinja (34.0).
Kampala recorded (33.0), Entebbe (31.2), Namulonge (32..4). Kabale recorded the lowest temperature at (28.2) .
The department said since 1990 up to the present, high temperatures have been recurring more often and the trend was likely to continue.
Meanwhile, the dust, which hovers over the atmosphere has been attributed to dust particles, which are being blown over Libya and the Sahara desert to Uganda.
Aloy Kagoro, an official of the Meteorology department attributed the hazy mornings common these days to the dust, which he said reduces visibility.
Kagoro said the dust could reduce visibility between half a kilometer to nine kilometers depending on the strength of the high-pressure zone. He said the dust would be washed away when the rains start in mid-March.
Ends
The department said according to records available at various weather stations in the country, some districts have recorded high temperatures surpassing extreme temperatures recorded over a period of 30-40 years
A statement issued by the department said, “The month of February has seen many areas of Uganda experiencing extremely high temperatures. It should be noted that February is one of the months when most stations in the country record their highest temperatures of the year.â€
An official in the department said the temperatures were expected to go higher as the sun, which is currently in the southern hemisphere, moves closer to the Equator.
The department however said the current high temperatures are within the range normally experienced when there are climate changes. Climate changes occur after about 30 years.
The latest temperature readings taken on Feb-20 indicate Kitgum as the hottest district with temperatures standing at 38.5 degrees centigrade.
Kitgum was followed by Tororo (38.2), which surpassed its record of (36.4) previously recorded as the most extreme temperature in the district between 1930-1970.
Temperatures at Kasese district stood at (37.5) compared to a previous record of (36.0), Soroti (37.0) and Masindi (36.6), Arua (37.0) from a previous record of (36.1) and Jinja (34.0).
Kampala recorded (33.0), Entebbe (31.2), Namulonge (32..4). Kabale recorded the lowest temperature at (28.2) .
The department said since 1990 up to the present, high temperatures have been recurring more often and the trend was likely to continue.
Meanwhile, the dust, which hovers over the atmosphere has been attributed to dust particles, which are being blown over Libya and the Sahara desert to Uganda.
Aloy Kagoro, an official of the Meteorology department attributed the hazy mornings common these days to the dust, which he said reduces visibility.
Kagoro said the dust could reduce visibility between half a kilometer to nine kilometers depending on the strength of the high-pressure zone. He said the dust would be washed away when the rains start in mid-March.
Ends