The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a severe heatwave in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan for the next three days, offering no respite from the intense heat. On Monday, Mungeshpur in Delhi emerged as the hottest area in the city with a maximum temperature of 48.8 degrees Celsius, while Najafgarh followed closely at 48.6 degrees Celsius. Rajasthan's Phalodi recorded the highest temperature in the country at 49.4 degrees Celsius.
According to the latest weather bulletin from the IMD, heatwave conditions are also expected in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh during the same three-day period.
In Delhi, which is currently under a red alert, the weather office predicted that the maximum temperature on Tuesday would rise to 46 degrees Celsius, with a minimum temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. On Monday, the Safdarjung observatory, the official marker for the city, recorded its second-highest maximum temperature of the season at 45.1 degrees Celsius, 4.7 degrees above normal, while the minimum was 29.2 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded in Delhi this season was 45.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, marking the first heatwave day in the capital.
In 2022, Delhi experienced four heatwave days, but there were none last year. On Monday, Mungeshpur was the hottest spot in Delhi at 48.8 degrees Celsius, with Najafgarh following at 48.6 degrees Celsius. Both temperatures were eight degrees above normal.
Across the country, at least 17 locations surpassed the 48 degrees mark on Monday due to the severe heat. Haryana's Sirsa reached 48.4 degrees, Punjab's Bathinda recorded 48.4 degrees, Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi saw 48.1 degrees, and Madhya Pradesh's Niwari hit 48.7 degrees.
Himachal Pradesh also experienced rising temperatures under heatwave conditions. Una reached 44 degrees Celsius, while Mandi recorded 39.4 degrees.
Despite the extreme heat, the IMD has predicted some relief in three days due to an incoming western disturbance. IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated, "Expect relief from the heat wave in northwest and central parts of the country after three days due to a western disturbance and moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea. There could be some thunderstorm activity in northwest India and rain in the western Himalayan region."
Additionally, normal to above-normal minimum temperatures are expected in most parts of the country in June, offering a slight respite from the intense daytime heat.
