Severe heatwave in 6 states to continue till 26 May: IMD
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a severe heatwave will persist across Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh till May 26, with no relief from the oppressive heat for at least the next four days.
As the sweltering heat scorched most of the country on Wednesday, the mercury rose to 48 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan’s Barmer, the highest temperature recorded this year.
According to the IMD’s most recent meteorological bulletin, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are highly possible in regions of East and West Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and West Uttar Pradesh between Thursday and May 26.
Meanwhile, a severe heatwave will prevail in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh from Friday to April 26.
On Thursday, Delhi’s highest temperature is forecast to reach 43.4 degrees Celsius, up three notches from the usual, while the minimum is expected to be 30.9 degrees, up four notches from normal.
Also read: Intense heatwave in Delhi pushes power demand to an all-time high of 7,717 MW
As a result of the persistent heat, at least 24 locations in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh reported maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or above on Wednesday.
The highest recorded maximum temperature was 48 degrees Celsius in Barmer, Rajasthan; Sirsa, Haryana, followed with 46.6 degrees in Bhatinda, Punjab; 46.1 degrees in Kandla, Gujarat; 45 degrees in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, and Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh; and 44.8 degrees in Akola, Maharashtra.
Also read: No respite from heat as temperatures soar in Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Punjab
IMD predicts heavy rainfall in South India
The IMD predicts heavy to very heavy rains across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Puducherry on Thursday. The forecast service also projected rain in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands during the following seven days.
The weather office has issued a red alert for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, and Idukki districts due to torrential rain in Kerala, which is predicted to last until Saturday.
A PTI news report cited the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority as saying that four people died in the southern state as a result of rain-related incidents.
Meanwhile, the IMD issued an orange alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad, while Kannur and Kasaragod remained on yellow alert.
