Sonne im Lot – kein Schatten weit und breit
BANGKOK, THAILAND – The sun stood exactly perpendicular over the capital at midday Monday, leaving no shadows at 12:16 p.m., but it was not the hottest day of the year.
At precisely noon, Bangkok witnessed the rare “zero-shadow phenomenon.” The sun reached an exact 90-degree angle — directly above people’s heads. Anyone stepping onto the street saw their own shadow disappear.
However, the Weather Bureau dampened hopes for an ultimate heat record. Clouds and isolated thunderstorms kept temperatures in many places below the summer’s peak value.
37 Grad – so heiß wird es in Bangkok und Chiang Mai
Tuesday brings more scorching heat. For the capital Bangkok and the northern metropolis Chiang Mai, meteorologists forecast highs of 37 degrees Celsius. Conditions will also be uncomfortable in the provinces.
In Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Songkhla and Phuket, the mercury will climb to between 34 and 35 degrees. For many residents, another sweaty day — with no significant cooling in sight.
Darum war Montag nicht der heißeste Tag
A solar zenith does not automatically mean the greatest heat. The weather office explained that cloud cover and rainfall in some regions moderated temperatures. On Monday, despite the extreme solar position, conditions remained comparatively bearable.
Meteorologists expect the values to remain stable or even rise slightly through Friday. Only then should a cooling of about two degrees set in — a small ray of hope in the heatwave.
Ausblick: Am Freitag endlich etwas kühler
People in Thailand will have to be patient until the end of the work week. The weather authority predicts the thermometer will stay at its high level until Friday. Then the temperature will drop by around two degrees — a noticeable relief.
For Bangkok and the other provinces, this means: two more days of sweating, then the longed-for relief arrives. Whether the clouds will really help remains to be seen.
Was steckt hinter dem Schatten-los-Tag?
The phenomenon occurs regularly in Thailand during April. When the sun is exactly perpendicular above a location, shadows disappear completely. In Bangkok this happened at 12:16 p.m. — a precise moment of astronomy.
Scientists call this moment the solar zenith. In Thailand it is observed twice a year, depending on geographic latitude. But direct solar radiation alone does not create a heat record.
Wenn die Sonne dich packt – was bleibt vom Tag?
While we marvel at the spectacle in the sky, we often forget the strain. People in Bangkok must work at 37 degrees, stand in markets, sit in overcrowded buses. Every sunbeam becomes a challenge.
Have you ever experienced a day without shadow? How does it feel when the sun burns directly from above — and no shadow offers protection? Write to us: What is your trick against the midday heat? Discuss with us in the comments!