Delhi is predicted to record a serious heatwave today, with the maximum temperature likely to hit the 40-degree mark, India Meteorological Department said.
Severe heatwave conditions are likely going to persevere on Thursday too, the weather department added.
IMD officials said a prolonged dry spell has led to “severe” hot weather conditions in northwest India.
“The heatwave spell over northwest, central and west India is likely to continue during the next four to five days.” For the plains, a “heatwave” is declared when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius, and at least 4.5 notches above normal.
A “severe” heatwave is announced in the event that the takeoff from ordinary temperature is more than 6.4 degrees, as indicated by the IMD.
Parts of Delhi reeled under extreme heatwave conditions on Tuesday and eight weather stations in Delhi recorded their greatest temperature over 40 degrees Celsius, with the mercury at Narela, Pitampura, and the Sports Complex station crossing the 41-degree mark.
Another spell of a heat wave in Delhi is likely from April 3 to April 5, the weather department said.
The capital had recorded the greatest temperature of 40.1 degrees Celsius on March 30 last year. The unequaled most elevated greatest temperature in March (40.6 degrees Celsius) was recorded on March 31, 1945.
“Absence of a weather system and the presence of an anti-cyclone over Rajasthan and adjoining Pakistan had been pushing hot winds across North and Central India. March is going to end on a hotter note with no respite till the beginning of April,” said Mahesh Palawan, vice president, Meteorology and Climate Change, Skymet Weather.
Light winds and dry weather conditions will once again increase temperatures over northwest India leading to heatwave conditions, he said.
“While we expect a heatwave to hit parts of central and northwest India by the end of March, it was not expected so early in the season. But I would also not be surprised, as we have been witnessing a gradual rise in day temperatures for the last few years. Maximum temperatures breaking records are nowhere to stay with the rise in global mean temperatures,” he said.
