Heatwave Alert Live Updates: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red alert’ for several states in north India due to the ongoing heatwave and soaring temperatures. Forecasts indicate that maximum temperatures in these regions could reach up to 48 degrees Celsius this week. The red alert has been issued for cities in northern India, including Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, and western Uttar Pradesh. Severe heatwave conditions are expected to persist over these states for the next five days.
On the other hand, a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, reaching the coasts of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal by Sunday evening, the IMD announced on Thursday. This will be the first cyclone in the Bay of Bengal for this pre-monsoon season and will be named Remal, following the cyclone naming system in the Indian Ocean region.
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High night temperatures are considered dangerous because they prevent the body from cooling down. This increasing nighttime heat is more prevalent in cities due to the urban heat island effect, where metro areas are significantly hotter than their surroundings. The intense heat is straining power grids and drying up water bodies, leading to drought-like conditions in parts of the country.
Conditions are expected to worsen as the India Meteorological Department predicts temperatures will rise by three to four degrees in northwest India over the next few days. It said warm night conditions could further exacerbate heat-related stress in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan over the next four days.
Barmer in Rajasthan recorded a high of 48 degrees Celsius, the highest in the country this season. Churu reached 47.4 degrees, Phalodi 47.8 degrees, and Jaisalmer 47.2 degrees. Maximum temperatures settled at 45 degrees in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam, 44.8 degrees in Maharashtra’s Akola, 47.7 degrees in Haryana’s Sirsa, 46.6 degrees in Punjab’s Bhatinda, 46.1 degrees in Gujarat‘s Kandla, and 45 degrees in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh.
Official data revealed that on Wednesday, at least 24 locations in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh recorded maximum temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or higher.
#watch | Special arrangements are made by Safdarjung Hospital in the emergency department for people who need treatment from Heat Wave, in Delhi. (22-05) pic.twitter.com/I8ADVzW9E8
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2024
Amid the sweltering heat, water levels in the Yamuna River’s Delhi stretch dropped, impacting the water supply. The city also experienced record power demand, reaching 8,000 megawatts, as air conditioners, coolers, and refrigerators in homes and offices ran at full capacity. According to the Central Water Commission, water storage in 150 major reservoirs across India dropped to its lowest level in five years last week. This decline has exacerbated water shortages in many states and significantly impacted hydropower generation.
Severe heatwave conditions are expected to persist over the plains of Northwest India, with heatwave conditions forecasted for north Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat State over the next five days. Meanwhile, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is anticipated over south Peninsular India until May 24th, with the possibility of extremely heavy falls over Kerala on May 22nd, 2024.
The blistering heat wave sweeping across large parts of India continued unabated on Wednesday, with temperatures soaring to 48 degrees Celsius in Barmer, Rajasthan—the highest recorded in the country this year. The Met department issued a red warning for Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh, highlighting a “very high likelihood” of heat illness and heatstroke for people of all ages.
According to the IMD, the city will be under an orange alert on Thursday, with predictions of mainly clear skies and heatwave conditions in some areas. Strong surface winds are expected, blowing at speeds of 25-35 kmph. The weather office has issued a red alert from Thursday to Saturday, advising “extreme care for vulnerable people” due to the heatwave. Throughout the day, Delhi’s relative humidity fluctuated between 59 and 37 percent.