Delhi may touch 45°C next week; heat wave likely across north and central India
IMD predicts little relief from heat in several parts of north and west India till at least May 23
Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) is set to experience a severe heatwave over the week starting Monday (May 18) with the mercury expected to peak at 45 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted.
People have been advised to stay indoors during the afternoon hours as scorching winds raise the risk of heatstroke. Besides Delhi, many other North Indian states are also on heatwave alert as conditions intensify.
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A press release by the Met department said the maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are likely to be between 43 and 45 degrees and 25 and 27 degrees, respectively.
Heat wave to severe heat wave predicted
It said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are likely to prevail over the plains of northwest India and central India during the week. It also made forecasts about isolated heavy rain, but only in northeast India and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Mahe, Lakshadweep and south interior Karnataka.
What is heat wave? What IMD says
♦ Qualitatively, a heat wave is a condition of air temperature which becomes fatal to the human body when exposed.
♦ Quantitatively, a heat wave is defined based on the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal. In certain countries, it is defined in terms of the heat index based on temperature and humidity or based on extreme percentile of the temperatures.
According to the IMD, heat wave conditions are likely to prevail in isolated pockets in Rajasthan between May 17 and 23; Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi between May 18 and 23; Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha in Maharashtra between May 17 and 21; Chhattisgarh on May 20 and 21; pockets in Uttar Pradesh between May 17 and 23; and Telangana between May 17 and 21.
It also said that severe heat wave conditions may prevail in isolated areas of UP between May 19 and 23. Warm night conditions in isolated pockets are likely to be seen in West Rajasthan on May 17 and 18.
Gradual rise in maximum temperatures till May 21
The IMD said the maximum temperatures over many parts of northwest India may see a gradual rise between three and five degrees till May 21, with no significant change to be seen on May 22 and 23. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, no major change in maximum temperatures is expected till May 19, and the mercury could see a gradual fall between two and three per cent between May 20 and 22.
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In parts of the East, northeast and Telangana, the maximum temperatures could go up by two to three per cent till May 19. In the remaining parts of the country, no significant change in maximum temperatures is likely till May 23, the IMD press note said.
In Delhi, the minimum temperature is also expected to remain above normal during the heat wave conditions. A Hindustan Times report cited an IMD official as saying that maximum temperatures over Delhi are likely to remain above normal when the heat wave conditions develop from May 18.
On Saturday (May 16), Delhi registered a maximum temperature of 40.8 degrees and a minimum temperature of 24.8 degrees. On Sunday, too, the maximum temperature was above 40 degrees.
Haryana, Punjab burn
In Haryana and Punjab, hot weather conditions prevailed as day temperatures crossed 40 degrees Celsius in several places on Sunday.
Also read: From traffic signals shutdown to SOPs for workers: How states are tackling heatwave
Sirsa in Haryana recorded the hottest day temperature at 44 degrees.
Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded the day temperature at 40.3 degrees.
(With agency inputs)