Heat wave conditions across the country have claimed over 1,000 lives in the last few days. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh along with Central and East India are the worst hit. According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, May is supposed to be the hottest month for the country. Weather systems during this time become rare, except for localized activities such as dust storms and thunderstorms/thundershowers. Prolonged spells of heat wave are also observed during this month, which is exactly the case right now.
For the last ten days the day temperature in most parts of the country has been recording close to 45°C, amounting to heat wave. When the maximum is 5 degrees above the normal average for the month, heat wave is declared.
Temperature in North India
Currently a lot of places are observing extremely uncomfortable temperatures. For instance, Karnal in Haryana saw the day temperature settle at 44°C on Tuesday, which is 4 degrees above normal. In Patiala the maximum settled at 42.4°C, while the national capital Delhi was sizzling under intense heat of 45.5°C. The maximum temperature in Delhi was 5 degrees above normal, amounting to heat wave conditions.
Temperature in East and Central India
East and Central India are two of the hottest pockets in the country after Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Several places in the region are experiencing heat wave conditions. For example, Daltonganj in Jharkhand recorded 46.8°C as the maximum on Tuesday. Jharsuguda in Odisha observed the day temperature settle at 46°C, while Raipur in Chhattisgarh and Nagpur in Maharashtra saw the maximum settle at 46.1°C and 46.2°C, respectively.
Temperature in West India
The temperatures in the western parts of the country are also soaring. Kota in Rajasthan was reeling under temperature as high as 45.8°C, on Tuesday. The state capital Jaipur was also observing intense heat with maximum settling at 44.7°C. The temperature in Ahmedabad was a shade better at 43.9°C.
Weather Forecast
According to weathermen at Skymet, the temperatures in the above regions are going to sustain for another 4-5 days. Though there are chances of dust storm and thundershower activity in next 24 to 48 hours in parts of North India including Delhi, no major relief is expected. The weather activity will be mild.
However, the western and northern parts of the country, particularly Gujarat and Rajasthan are likely to observe a marginal drop of 2-3 degrees in the day temperature in next 24 hours. The drop in temperature will be on account of southwesterly winds blowing in the region from the Arabian Sea.
Image credit: livemint.com
