India's Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Nagpur has attributed the reading of 56 degrees Celsius recorded at an automatic weather station to likely sensor malfunction in extreme heat conditions. This marks the second instance where such stations have raised alarms due to inaccurate readings.

Exploring the potential reasons behind such inaccuracies, experts have highlighted various factors including device integrity, placement, and calibration. The RMC in Nagpur clarified in a statement that the reading observed on May 30 was an outlier and not reflective of accurate weather conditions.

The RMC further stated, "Automatic systems may report erroneous readings due to various factors such as site conditions, damage of sensors, or its protection shields." This underscores the complexity involved in maintaining the accuracy of weather monitoring systems, particularly in extreme conditions.

Similarly, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is scrutinizing a recorded temperature of 52.3°C at the Mungeshpur station in Delhi, emphasizing the need for thorough verification of such records.

M Mohapatra, IMD director general, acknowledged the potential for malfunctioning in automatic sensors under extreme weather conditions. He stated, "We are studying all aspects of these records, the location, the machine, everything."

Mahesh Palawat, vice president of climate and meteorology at Skymet Weather, highlighted the importance of calibration and location in ensuring the reliability of automatic weather stations, particularly in recording extreme temperature ranges.

As India grapples with soaring temperatures, the IMD reported heat wave to severe heat wave conditions across many parts of north and central India. Maximum temperatures soared to 47-48°C in multiple locations, prompting the issuance of an orange alert, the second-highest level, for northwest, central, and east India on June 1.

Despite prolonged heat wave spells, there is no official record of heat-related deaths in India this year. The lack of information from the home ministry’s disaster management division on this matter underscores the need for comprehensive monitoring and response mechanisms.

India currently boasts 813 automatic weather stations across the country, serving as vital tools for weather monitoring and forecasting. However, ensuring their accuracy and reliability remains an ongoing challenge, particularly in the face of extreme weather events.