Heatwave alert issued for north, central India; Delhi to scorch at 45 degrees C

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday (May 24) predicted severe heat wave conditions over northwest, central and adjoining peninsular India, two days after Delhi scorched at 44.7 degrees Celsius, its highest maximum temperature of the season.

According to IMD, the maximum temperature in the city and its neighbouring areas will remain between 26 degrees Celsius and 45 degrees Celsius on Sunday.

The temperature in the national capital will hover between 45 degree Celsius and 46 degree Celsius for the next four days, followed by a heavy downpour, IMD said.

“Till May 27, there will be no respite. The maximum temperature can go up to 46- 47 degree Celsius in the Capital because of dry, hot winds blowing. From May 28 night, a western disturbance will affect us which may cause dust storm or thunderstorms. Low level easterly winds may also bring some relief after May 28,” Kuldeep Shrivastava, head, regional weather forecasting centre, Delhi told Hindustan Times.

While northwest, central and peninsular India will experience severe heatwave for the next four days, several parts of northeast India will experience very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in the same period, IMD said in a statement on Saturday.

The IMD has also issued an orange (heatwave to persist for more than four days) alert in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh from May 24 to 27 for heatwave. It has also issued alerts in west and east Rajasthan for heatwave and severe heatwave and in Vidarbha for heat wave.

According to IMD, a heat wave prevails over a region if its maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degree Celsius or more for plains, 37 degree Celsius or more for coastal regions and at least 30 degree Celsius or more for hilly regions.