Bangkok is experiencing one of its hottest summers ever, with the mercury regularly rising to the 40C (104F) range and not a rainstorm in sight so far.
Last night hopeful-looking dark clouds formed and the wind picked up, but alas no rain fell on the city.
The heat has driven Bangkok’s finest indoors to the safety of their air conditioned sanctuaries and away from the relentless beating sun which was at its most direct point over the capital on April 27. That created the hottest recorded temperature at Don Muang Meteorological Station in 30 years, 39.4C (102.9F), The Bangkok Post reported. The highest temperature ever recorded was 39.9C (103.8F) in 1983.
But on Twitter and Facebook, Bangkok residents are regular posting screenshots of weather apps or websites showing even higher temperatures. The popular app AccuWeather even has a trademarked “Real Feel” feature – which supposedly takes into account factors like humidity and sunshine intensity to calculate how hot it really is – that has been recorded at 43C (109.4F). YIKES!
Coconuts Bangkok’s fearless translator/interpreter Christal hit the streets to ask regular Bangkok residents about the heat – nearly everyone said it was the hottest summer they have ever seen.
Poh, 34-years-old, who works for Asiana Airlines in Ploenchit said it was definitely the hottest summer she had ever seen and that she hoped it would end soon. She has almost fainted or vomited from the heat several times, she said, and she gets a severe headache from only four or five minutes in the sun.
Tana, a 24-year-old taxi driver in the Sukhumvit area, said it was the longest summer he’s ever seen. He said he hates to get out of his taxi when it’s this hot and that he showers as much as possible. Another taxi driver in Thonburi, 30-year-old Anuchad said he is trying to keep cool in his heart, despite the fact that it’s the hottest summer ever.
Tdo, 30-years-old who works for a hotel in Ekkamai, said that his skin turns darker very quickly when he’s in the sun.
Could this irregular weather be related to global warming? We sure think so.
