Some respite from heat in North India likely; temperature might dip marginally

North India might get little respite from soaring heat in the next two days as mercury levels are likely to show a marginal dip between April 12 and 14, according to Skymet Weather. Severe heat has been sweeping many parts of the region, both plains and mountains, for the last one week.

Day temperature has climbed to 44-45 degree Celsius in Rajasthan and parts of South Haryana. Alwar in Rajasthan registered 45.8 degree Celsius, the highest temperature in the country recorded so far in the season.

Heatwave in Delhi

Delhi reeled under a heatwave for the fourth consecutive day on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department has predicted similar conditions for the next two days and has issued an ‘orange’ alert warning of a severe heatwave in the city for Monday.

The IMD uses four colour codes for weather warnings — green (no action needed), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared) and red (take action). The capital has recorded four heatwave days so far in April this year, equalling the number of such days in the month in 2017.

For the plains, a ‘heatwave’ is declared when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius and at least 4.5 notches above normal. A ‘severe heatwave’ is declared if the departure from normal temperature is more than 6.4 notches, according to the IMD.

The Safdarjung Observatory, considered the official marker for the city, recorded a maximum temperature of 41.8 degrees Celsius, six notches above normal. Delhi recorded 42.4 degree Celsius on April 9, the highest in the last five years.

However, some respite is in the offing. A western disturbance is approaching Jammu & Kashmir on April 12. Mountainous states of North India will witness cloudy skies and scattered rain and thundershowers between April 12-14. Lightening strikes are also quite likely at few places during this period, according to Skymet.

Wind pattern will change from dry and extremely hot north-westerly to light and moist easterly. The day temperatures are expected to dip by 2-3 degree Celsius, albeit with a spike in the sweat and sultry conditions. Heat wave may abate for couple of days but build up again after mid-week, Skymet predicted.

Dry Kolkata

The prolonged dry spell, billed “unusual” by a Met official and one that has gripped much of the Indian mainland, has not spared Kolkata, reports The Telegraph. “It is quite unusual. Normally, the city gets a couple of squalls by the end of March. April also sees three to four squalls. But Kolkata is not alone. Entire south Bengal and swathes of mainland India are going through a dry phase,” the newspaper quoted GK Das, director of the Indian Meteorological Department, Kolkata.

This year, the moisture-laden easterly winds from the Bay are not moving into the mainland in the absence of a conducive weather system over Bihar or Jharkhand. The winds are moving towards north Bengal and Northeast, just touching Kolkata. As a result, north Bengal is witnessing heavy rainfall but south Bengal is dry, said Met officials.