Indians amused by UK’s heatwave alert at 26 Degrees Celsius, say ‘Their AC is currently set at UK heatwave level’
PTC Web Desk: India’s residents, accustomed to enduring some of the highest summer temperatures on the planet, have been left both amused and bemused by the United Kingdom’s recent announcement of a heatwave alert at 26 degrees Celsius. The contrast between the two countries’ summer climates has triggered a flurry of witty and humourous responses from Indians on social media.
In India, summer temperatures frequently soar above 40 degrees Celsius, with some regions even surpassing 50 degrees. The intense heat in Delhi and the oppressive humidity in Mumbai characterise the peak summer months, making them particularly challenging for residents. Against this backdrop, the UK’s alert at 26 degrees Celsius, a temperature many Indians would consider mild, has become a source of entertainment.
The UK-based publication, The Mirror, reported on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), “UK to be blasted by 48-hour 26C heatwave with five cities in England the hottest,” linking to their full article. The post quickly went viral, attracting numerous comments, especially from Indian users who found the alert rather amusing.
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
IFS officer Parveen Kaswan was among those who joined in the lighthearted commentary, tweeting, “That is just two degrees above the default air conditioning setting in India. A pleasant weather it seems.” His remark encapsulated the sentiment of many Indians who often set their air conditioners to around 24 degrees Celsius to escape the extreme heat.
Another user said, “My AC is currently set at UK heatwave level,” highlighting the stark difference in perception between what constitutes a heatwave in the UK versus India. The playful banter continued as more users joined the conversation, emphasising how 26 degrees Celsius is considered comfortable or even cool in many parts of India.
My AC is currently set at UK heatwave level pic.twitter.com/zOd70tRcch
— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) June 16, 2024
Interestingly, the reactions weren’t limited to Indians. Several US citizens also chimed in, mocking the UK’s classification of 26 degrees as a heatwave. One user commented, “To be considered a ‘heatwave,’ it needs to be above body temperature, not room temperature,” underscoring the general consensus that 26 degrees is far from extreme.