The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ for Delhi and parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and West Uttar Pradesh, predicting continued heatwave to severe heatwave conditions over the next five days. Maximum daytime temperatures in many districts of these states may exceed 47 degrees Celsius.
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On Tuesday, severe heatwave conditions were recorded in numerous parts of northwest India, including sections of Rajasthan and isolated pockets in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Warm night conditions were also observed in some regions of Rajasthan.
Temperatures Soar in Northwest India
The highest maximum temperature recorded on Tuesday was in Sirsa, Haryana, at 47.8°C, followed closely by Najafgarh in Delhi at 47.4°C. Other notable temperatures include:
Pilani, Rajasthan: 47.2°C
Bhatinda Airport, Punjab: 46.6°C
Agra Taj, Uttar Pradesh: 46.6°C
Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh: 45.6°C
Surendranagar, Gujarat: 45.4°C
Akola, Maharashtra: 44.0°C
Durg, Chhattisgarh: 43.6°C
Una, Himachal Pradesh: 42.4°C
Heatwave Alert and Forecast
Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are expected to persist across the plains of northwest India, with heatwave conditions likely in northern Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat over the next five days. Central India is projected to experience a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by about 2-3 degrees during this period. Northwest India and Maharashtra will see no significant change in maximum temperatures in the next 24 hours, followed by a gradual rise of 2-3°C.
Delhi Weather Forecast
For Delhi, the weather forecast for Wednesday predicts mainly clear skies with heatwave conditions expected in some areas. Strong surface winds, with speeds of 20-30 km/h and occasional gusts, are anticipated during the day.
Monsoon 2024 Update
The IMD also provided an update on the progress of the Southwest Monsoon. Conditions are favorable for its advancement over parts of the Southeast Arabian Sea, additional areas of the Maldives, the Comorin area, the South Bay of Bengal, and more regions of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea in the next two days.
Rainfall Predictions
Isolated heavy rainfall is expected over Coastal and South Interior Karnataka from May 22 to 23, over Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal on May 24, and over Kerala on May 25. Additionally, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal from May 22 to 23, and over Kerala and Mahe on May 24. There will also be isolated extremely heavy rainfall over Kerala on May 22 and 23.
As the intense heatwave grips northwestern India, residents are advised to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses and stay updated with the latest weather advisories.