Killer heatwave in North India
Since May 14, Delhi has faced extreme heat, with multiple heatwaves, severe heatwaves, and warm night conditions. The city saw maximum temperatures surpass 45 degrees Celsius on seven occasions, with two in June and five in May. On Saturday, the overcast sky and pleasant breeze kept the daytime temperature lower. At Safdarjung, the maximum temperature was 39.4 degrees Celsius, slightly above normal, compared to 40.4 degrees Celsius the previous day. The minimum temperature was 28.4 degrees Celsius, normal for the season, down from 29.6 degrees Celsius. Safdarjung also recorded light rain or drizzling. The highest maximum temperature recorded in the country on Saturday was 43.8°C at Kanpur IAF in West Uttar Pradesh.
In other regions, maximum temperatures are above normal by 2-4°C in many parts of Gujarat, parts of Konkan adjacent to Madhya Maharashtra, East Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and isolated pockets of Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand. On Saturday, maximum temperatures range from 40-41°C in parts of Haryana, West Rajasthan, and Gujarat, and from 38-40°C in many parts of Punjab, North Madhya Pradesh, East Rajasthan, South Uttar Pradesh, and West Jharkhand.
IMD’s heatwave warning
No significant change in maximum temperatures is expected in Northwest India for the today, with a rise of 3-4°C thereafter. No significant change is anticipated in maximum temperatures across the rest of the country.
A heatwave warning is in effect for the next five days. Heatwave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of West Uttar Pradesh from June 23-25 and in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi on June 24-25, after which the conditions are expected to abate.