Weather / Heatwave conditions to be at peak over north and central India today

New Delhi: Weather and temperature Today: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the heatwave condition will be at its peak on Tuesday over the plains of northwest India, central India and adjoining interior parts of eastern India due to the prevailing dry northwesterly winds over these areas. It also said that the hot spell is very likely to prevail over these areas till May 28. On Monday, Rajasthan’s Churu district recorded the highest temperature of 47.5 degrees Celcius.

Today, the maximum temperatures in Delhi will be 44 degrees Celcius, Punjab and Rajasthan (43 degrees Celcius), Haryana (45 degrees Celcius), Chandigarh 42 and Madhya Pradesh (44 degrees Celcius).

A heatwave is considered if the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40°C or more for plains, 37°C or more for coastal stations and at least 30°C or more for hilly regions, according to the IMD. For the plains, a heatwave is declared when the actual maximum temperature is 45 degrees Celsius and severe heatwave when it is 47 degrees Celsius or above.

And heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia or heat-related illness with abnormally elevated temperatures accompanied by physical symptoms, including changes in the functioning of the nervous system. Unlike heat cramps and heat exhaustion, heat stroke is a medical emergency that can prove fatal if not treated on time.

Which states will see severe heatwave

Meteorological sub-division wise, severe heatwave conditions at isolated pockets is very likely over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during May 26- May 27. Also, only heatwave conditions over these areas on May 28 has been predicted. The heatwave conditions are also likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada, interior Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and Jharkhand during the next 2-3 days.

Substantial reduction of heatwave conditions from May 29

Under the influence of a Western Disturbance and formation of the east-west trough in lower levels and likely occurrence of rain/thunderstorm from May 28-29, the maximum temperature over plains of north India is likely to recede from May 28 onwards with a substantial reduction of heatwave conditions from May 29. Under the favourable wind conditions over parts of central and adjoining eastern parts of India, heatwave conditions are also likely to reduce from these areas from May 29.

On Monday, severe heatwave conditions were reported in isolated pockets over West Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Kutch and Vidarbha and heatwave conditions were reported at most places over Vidarbha, at many places over East Uttar Pradesh and West Rajasthan, at a few places over Haryana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh and in isolated pockets over West Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan, Marathwada, Telangana, Gujarat State and Chhattisgarh. The maximum temperatures were above normal at most places on Monday.

‘Red alert’ for heatwave in Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan till today

The IMD had on Sunday issued a “red” alert for heatwave in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh and Rajasthan for Monday and Tuesday. It advised taking extreme care for vulnerable people, including infants, elderly and people with chronic diseases. The “red” warning is in place for two days, Monday and Tuesday.

IMD has four colour-coded messages — green, yellow, amber and red. Green indicates normal conditions while red denotes extreme weather situations. A red colour warning means there is a high chance of developing heat-related illnesses and heat strokes in people of all ages, said the IMD.

The IMD has also issued an orange warning for heatwave for east Uttar Pradesh, Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre, told the PTI. He warned that temperatures could hit 47 degrees Celsius in some parts over the next two-three days. This is also for the first time this summer that a red warning has been issued for heatwave, Srivastava said.