Heat wave warning! IMD warns of mercury spike in North India - Punjab, UP and more; Southwest Monsoon Update Here

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heatwave warning for the plains of northwest and central India. Temperatures are expected to rise during this week, which could be harmful to the young, the elderly and pets, who are most vulnerable to heatstroke.

Several states across northern India are on IMD yellow alert for heat wave, including Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. In addition, an orange alert is in place for parts of Maharashtra and a yellow alert for Telangana.

The IMD has predicted heat conditions in isolated pockets in the following regions:

Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi till May 23
Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha by May 21
Chhattisgarh on 20th and 21st May
Uttar Pradesh till May 23 while severe heat waves are likely from tomorrow till May 23.
Telangana till 21st May.

Meanwhile, West Rajasthan region may brace for warm night conditions today. According to the IMD, residents of northwest India should be prepared for a gradual rise in mercury of 3-5 degrees Celsius over the next three days. A gradual increase in maximum temperature of 2-3°C is also likely over East, Northeast India and Telangana till May 19.

In its latest weather bulletin, the IMD said, “Heat wave to severe heat wave likely to prevail over plains of northwest India and central India during many days of the week.

The Met Office has issued an advisory urging residents of affected areas to take the following precautions to beat the heat:

“Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is also likely over Northeast India and over Andaman & Nicobar Islands, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next 6-7 days; and over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, Kerala & Mahe, Lakshadweep and South Interior Karnataka during the next 3 days,” an IMD press release dated 18

Southwest Monsoon Update

Forecasting the onset of southwest monsoon in Kerala on May 26, the Met department said, “Conditions are favorable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some other parts of southeast Arabian Sea, southwest and southeast Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Andaman Islands and Andaman Sea and some parts of east central Bay of Bengal during the next 2-3 days.”

Today’s weather in Delhi

The IMD has predicted “mainly clear” weather on May 18 and has issued a yellow heatwave warning for the coming two days. On Monday, the maximum temperature is expected to be 3.0°C to 5.0°C above normal and will be in the range of 43°C to 45°C, the minimum temperature will be around normal around 25°C to 27°C.

Residents of the capital of the republic can expect a gradual increase in maximum and minimum temperatures by 2-3°C over the next two days. The Ayanagar monitoring station recorded the highest maximum temperature on Sunday at 43 degrees Celsius, while the Safdarjung stations recorded a temperature of 41.9 degrees Celsius.