— Umed Pratap Singh (@umedpratapsingh) June 27, 2026Yes, 43°C in India feels different to 43°C in Europe.
The sun feels sharper in Europe due to the clear skies, while pollution in India scatters and dissipates heat differently," he added.Another reason is the weather conditions during European heatwaves.
In India, heat is often accompanied by warm winds or high humidity.Singh also noted that buildings in Europe were designed for winters, not extreme summers.
"Why would households invest in ACs when it crosses 25 degrees Celsius (minimum) for less than seven days a year?
he wrote.Singh said air conditioners are likely to become common in European homes as heatwaves become hotter and last longer.
Is 43°C in Europe different than 43°C in India ?
What's so rona dhona about ? Here, temperature even touches 48°C.
— Umed Pratap Singh (@umedpratapsingh) June 27, 2026
Yes, 43°C in India feels different to 43°C in Europe. Allow me to explain.
1. Europe is much more north on the planet, compared to the tropical location of India. For example, Paris is even north of Toronto in Canada. In India, the sun hits from the top. In Europe, it hits at an… https://t.co/AVRyL1mkKF
— Siddharth Singh (@siddharth3) June 27, 2026
Over 1,300 deaths have been linked to the ongoing heatwave in Europe since June 21, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who described heat stress as a ‘silent killer.’ In France alone, the health ministry reported around 1,000 more deaths than expected since Wednesday.As Europe battles an intense heatwave, one social media user questioned why temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius there receive so much attention when several parts of India regularly record 45 degrees Celsius to 48 degrees Celsius during summer.According to Singh, Europe lies much farther north than India. Unlike India, where the sun is almost directly overhead, sunlight in Europe falls at an angle and summer days are much longer. This is the reason the sun feels different.He also pointed out that India's air pollution reduces the sharpness of sunlight by scattering it. While, Europe's clearer skies allow the sun's rays to feel stronger. "India's air pollution dulls the sun a bit. The sun feels sharper in Europe due to the clear skies, while pollution in India scatters and dissipates heat differently," he added.Another reason is the weather conditions during European heatwaves. Singh said recent heatwaves have been marked by little to no wind, making the air feel still and suffocating. In India, heat is often accompanied by warm winds or high humidity.Singh also noted that buildings in Europe were designed for winters, not extreme summers. Many homes feature wooden floors and dark roofs that trap heat. On the other hand, many Indian homes have stone or tiled floors that help keep indoor spaces relatively cooler.He cited air conditioning as another reason. Since Europe has historically experienced only a few hot days each year, many homes were built without ACs. However, Singh said this is changing as heatwaves become more frequent and severe, with more households now installing air conditioners."Why would households invest in ACs when it crosses 25 degrees Celsius (minimum) for less than seven days a year? New York has 4-5x more frequent warm days than Paris, for example. But that's now changing," he wrote.Singh added that in many European cities, building associations have traditionally discouraged visible outdoor AC units to preserve the appearance of streets and public spaces. But he believes these rules may change as temperatures continue to rise."This is why European cities are the most beautiful and walkable on the planet. Would you sit down to have wine and pasta on a street side cafe if an ugly AC unit was blowing hot air onto you?" he wrote.Singh said air conditioners are likely to become common in European homes as heatwaves become hotter and last longer. While most offices and shopping malls already have air conditioning, more households are now starting to install ACs as temperatures continue to rise.He also stressed that Indians are equally affected by extreme heat. Many people in India do not have air conditioners, live under tin roofs that trap heat, or are exposed to hot air from neighbouring AC units. "We all need to prepare better for our respective heat waves," Singh concluded.
