Indian summers often exceed 40 degrees Celsius, making the heat tolerance of Indians quite high. Whether facing Delhi’s scorching heat or Mumbai’s humid weather, the peak months are typically unpleasant. In contrast, the UK has issued a heatwave warning at a temperature that has left many Indians in stitches. The reason? It’s only 26 degrees Celsius—considered quite normal by Indian standards!
UK to be blasted by 48 hour 26C heatwave with five cities in England the hottest https://t.co/lYqEVaMDoB pic.twitter.com/13rOZhn3b7
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) June 13, 2024
News of several UK cities declaring a heatwave at this temperature has Indians laughing out loud.
When the daily tabloid ‘The Mirror’ posted about it on ‘X’, Indians couldn’t resist responding with their trademark humor.
“That is just two degrees above the default air conditioner setting in India. Pleasant weather, it seems,” quipped one user. Another added, “Mumbaikars call it winter.” A third commented, “Delhiites endure twice this in summer and 26 in winter. Weak people.” A fourth remarked, “Rajasthanis would enjoy it even more.”
That is just two degrees above than default Air Condition setting in India. A pleasant weather it seems. https://t.co/WDOTINrRel
— Parveen Kaswan (@ParveenKaswan) June 16, 2024
Mumbaikars call it winter
— sai vengurlekar (@sai0811) June 15, 2024
However, some pointed out the differences between India and the UK.
“Our homes in the UK are insulated, and we don’t have ceiling fans or ACs. If it goes beyond 25 degrees, it’s almost impossible to sleep at night,” one user explained. Another added, “26 degrees in the UK feels more like 40-42 degrees. It’s not comparable to Mumbai’s weather.”
There are significant differences between the summers in India and the UK. Indian summers often exceed 40°C (104°F), while UK summers rarely go above 30°C (86°F). Coastal areas in India experience high humidity, while the UK’s humidity is generally lower. The Indian monsoon season brings heavy rains and high humidity, a phenomenon not seen in the UK. The duration and intensity of the Indian summer, from March to June, surpass the UK’s shorter and milder summer from June to August. India’s geographical diversity leads to varied summer experiences, unlike the UK’s more uniform climate.
Lastly, India is well-adapted to extreme heat with suitable infrastructure and cultural practices, whereas the UK often struggles during heatwaves due to less adaptation. These differences underscore why the summer climates of India and the UK are not directly comparable, each presenting unique challenges and experiences.
