IMD issues ‘severe’ heatwave warning for Delhi, MP, Telangana; heavy rain likely in Andaman — Check full forecast | Today’s news
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a “severe” heatwave warning for northwest India, including Delhi, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, over the next few days.
These states have been facing extreme heat since this week, with temperatures hovering around 45 degrees Celsius in the national capital on Wednesday.
According to the IMD, a heat wave is observed when the maximum temperature crosses 40 degrees Celsius and remains 4.5 to 6.4 degrees above normal.
Read also | When does monsoon start in Kerala? Here is the IMD forecast for other states, UT
Heat wave warning:
In its latest bulletin, the IMD has predicted a severe heatwave over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on Thursday; conditions are likely to last until May 26.
Vidarbha and Uttar Pradesh (East and West) are also expected to experience severe heat waves at least till May 23.
The meteorological agency has predicted severe heat waves over Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Telangana and Odisha till May 24 and Bihar till May 23.
The temperature in Uttarakhand is expected to remain high on Thursday.
Read also | IMD warns of severe heat waves in northern India; energy consumption hits a record
Delhi weather forecast
For Delhi, the meteorological agency has issued an orange heatwave warning on Thursday, May 21, with the minimum temperature likely to settle around 28 degrees Celsius and the maximum touching 46 degrees Celsius.
This would mark the sixth heat wave recorded in Delhi this year. Heat waves were earlier recorded on April 23, 24, 25, May 19 and May 20, an IMD official said.
“Heat conditions are expected to continue next week,” Skymet Weather’s Mahesh Palawat told PTI.
Northwesterly winds have been blowing into the capital from the Thar desert region of Rajasthan and parts of central Pakistan in recent days, he said. “Traveling across vast arid tracts, these winds are intensely drying by the time they reach Delhi, trapping heat near the surface and sharply intensifying scorching conditions across the city.”
Palawat also said that night temperatures have remained high in recent days due to intense daytime heating. “The earth does not have enough time to release the accumulated heat, which leads to persistently warm nights.”
There is no forecast for thunderstorms or pre-monsoon rain activity for the next 10 days, further aggravating the situation.
Read also | IMD heatwave alert: Delhi braces for 4 scorching days as mercury hits 44.6C
Rain warning today
With the Southwest Monsoon expected to reach Kerala on May 26, the IMD has predicted heavy rains for Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Thursday and throughout the week.
The Meteorological Agency has predicted moderate rainfall with thundershowers, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal and Karnataka till May 24.
Isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over Tamil Nadu on Thursday and Friday and over Kerala, Mahe and Karnataka on Thursday.
The Meteorological Agency has also predicted isolated light to moderate rainfall with thundershowers, lightning and gusty winds of 40-50 kmph over Konkan & Goa and Madhya Maharashtra today.
The Met Dept has also predicted rain over Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand on Thursday till May 23, bringing relief from the sweltering heat.
