Delhi, Parts of North India Reel Under Heatwave; Relief Expected Soon, Says IMD

North India may start getting some relief from intense heatwave conditions from Wednesday. Severe heatwave conditions are likely to prevail over parts of North India for the next 24 hours with a red alert, but may begin to abate gradually thereafter, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday. The weather department said that a change in temperature is possible due to the western disturbances headed towards Northwest India.

Meanwhile, as monsoon continues to progress, the IMD has said that heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy falls are very likely to continue over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Assam-Meghalaya during next two days.

Prayagraj Records Highest Temperature, Red Alert in North India

With an intense heatwave prevailing over several parts of North India, UP’s Prayagraj on Monday recorded a temperature of 47.6°C, the highest in the country on June 17. Heatwave to severe heat wave conditions prevailed in most parts of Punjab and Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, in some parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar, north Madhya Pradesh and at isolated pockets over Odisha, the IMD said.

Amid the scorching heat on Tuesday, Delhi’s power demand hit 8,646 MW at 3:21 PM, an all time high.

Heatwave conditions also prevailed at isolated pockets over northwest Rajasthan, Gangetic West Bengal and Jammu division on Monday. The maximum temperatures on June 17 was in the range of 44-46°C over most parts of plains of north India and theses were above normal by 5-8°C over these regions.

The IMD has issued a red alert in Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar on June 18 and in Uttar Pradesh from June 18 to 20 amid severe heatwave conditions. An orange alert has been issued for Himachal Pradesh on June 18, north Madhya Pradesh on June 18 and 19, Uttar Pradesh on June 21 and 22, and Jharkhand on June 18.

The yellow alert areas include Jammu division, north Coastal Andhra Pradesh (June 18), north Rajasthan (June 18 and 19), Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand (June 19).

Advance of Southwest Monsoon

The IMD has said that conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest Monsoon into some more parts of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Northwest Bay of Bengal, some parts of Gangetic West Bengal, remaining parts of Sub Himalayan West Bengal and some parts of Bihar and Jharkhand during the next three to four days.

Meghalaya say heavy rainfall on Monday. Heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy falls also occurred at isolated places over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Bihar. Rains were also witnessed at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Telangana, South Interior Karnataka and Rayalaseema on Monday.

Cyclonic Circulation Warnings

The IMD has warned of a cyclonic circulation lying over northeast Assam in lower tropospheric levels. The weather department has said strong southwesterly/southerly winds are prevailing from Bay of Bengal to northeast India in lower tropospheric levels.

The IMD has warned of widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds (30-40 kmph) likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura and SubHimalayan West Bengal during the next five days.

A cyclonic circulation has also been observed over Northeast Arabian Sea adjoining Saurashtra in lower and middle levels and another over Westcentral Bay of Bengal adjoining Coastal Andhra Pradesh in lower tropospheric levels.

Scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm and lightning is likely over Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada during the next five days.