Heatwave in Delhi-NCR is likely to continue on Monday as well, giving no respite from sweltering temperatures, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest forecast.
Various weather stations in the capital city recorded the third consecutive warm night and eight heatwave days in a row on Sunday. The IMD warned of similar heatwave conditions for this week and issued a red alert for Monday with a very “high likelihood of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages” if people did not take precautions to limit their exposure.
A heatwave is when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius, while also being 4.5 degrees Celsius or more above normal.
It is only Thursday when some relief may be expected in the form of thunderstorms and light rain from an approaching western disturbance.
“Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions very likely in many/most parts of Uttar Pradesh during 16th-18th and Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi on 16th & 17th; in isolated/some parts of Bihar & Jharkhand on June 16 & June 17 and decrease in intensity thereafter over above regions,” the IMD said in a release.
However, the Met Department also predicted that north-eastern states, along with West Bengal and Odisha, will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 4-5 days.
Heatwave likely to continue in Delhi this week, IMD issues red alert
Sunday was the third consecutive day when a “warm night” was recorded. IMD classified a warm night when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature is 4.5 degrees Celsius or more above normal.
For this week, IMD has forecast Delhi’s maximum temperature to hover around 44-45 degrees Celsius till Wednesday, before dropping slightly to 42 degrees Celsius on Thursday. Delhi’s minimum temperature may also rise even further in the next few days, particularly at night.
“The minimum could touch 35°C in the next three days,” said the IMD official.
Sunday's Heat Index (HI) or “real feel” was 46°C after factoring in humidity to give an indication of how the temperature really feels outside. Delhi’s relative humidity was between 19-47 per cent in the last 24 hours.
Delhi’s wet-bulb temperature, another indicator of the comfort level outside, was between 24.5°C and 26.5°C on Sunday. A wet-bulb temperature of 32°C or higher makes it difficult for even fit and acclimatised people to work outdoors for long.
(With inputs from agencies)