Delhi experienced its hottest day of the year on Sunday, with the mercury soaring to 41.1 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This marked a significant increase from previous days, with temperatures reaching two notches above normal. The scorching heat surpassed the previous hottest day recorded earlier in April, underscoring the intensifying summer conditions in the national capital.
The weather forecast for Monday indicates mainly clear skies, with temperatures expected to remain high, with a maximum of 41 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 24 degrees Celsius. This prolonged heatwave is part of a broader pattern affecting several states across India, where temperatures soared up to 45 degrees Celsius in some regions.
Areas such as Telangana, Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, north interior Karnataka, and northern Madhya Pradesh experienced particularly sweltering conditions, with temperatures ranging between 44 and 45 degrees Celsius. The heatwave extended to parts of Marathwada, southeast Uttar Pradesh, northeast Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, north Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh, where maximum temperatures ranged from 42 to 44 degrees Celsius.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) highlighted that these temperatures were not only above average but significantly higher, raising concerns about their impact on human health and agricultural productivity. In Gangetic West Bengal, temperatures were recorded to be 4-7 degrees Celsius above normal, exacerbating the adverse effects of the heatwave.
Across Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, and other states, temperatures exceeded normal levels by 2-5 degrees Celsius. These alarming trends reflect the global rise in heat waves, highlighting the urgent need to address climate change. Higher temperatures can lead to water shortages, disrupt agriculture, and pose health risks, particularly in densely populated areas.
As the heatwave persists, weather forecasts for the upcoming week suggest that high temperatures may continue to prevail in affected regions, emphasizing the importance of measures to mitigate the impacts of extreme heat on communities and ecosystems.
