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Delhi temperature may touch 45 degrees Celsius next week as IMD predicts heatwave across north India
According to the weather department, a prolonged spell of heatwave is expected starting Monday, with maximum temperature expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius.
The mercury in Delhi may soar well above 40 degrees Celsius over the next week, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a heatwave for the capital.
According to the met department, a prolonged spell of heatwave is expected starting Monday, with the maximum temperature expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius.
“The maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are likely to be in the range of 43°C to 45°C and 25°C to 27°C, respectively,” a press release by the IMD said in its forecast for Monday (May 18). The maximum and minimum temperature on Monday is expected to hover around 44 degrees Celsius and 26 degree Celsius, respectively.
The weather department, however, did not immediately issue a colour-coded alert. It predicted strong surface winds, with speeds reaching 20-30 kmph occasionally gusting to 40 kmph during the day.
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Maximum temperatures to remain between 43 to 45 degrees Celsius range
The weather department, in its press release, said that the maximum temperatures in Delhi would remain between the 43 and 45 degrees Celsius range from May 18 to May 20.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature is also expected to be above normal at most places over Delhi for this duration. “Maximum temperatures over Delhi are expected to remain above normal during the coming days, and heatwave conditions are likely to develop from May 18,” an IMD official said, according to an earlier HT report.
Delhi had, on Saturday, recorded a maximum temperature of 40.8°C, just about 0.4°C above the normal, and a minimum temperature of 24.8°C, 1.7°C below the normal. On Sunday too, the Capital witnessed a maximum temperature of 41.9 degree Celsius, 1.5 notches above the seasonal average, according to IMD. The minimum temperature settled at 25.9 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning, 0.6 notches below the season's average.
Heatwave alert for northwestern, central India
Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast heatwave conditions across several northern states and Union territories, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi. Temperatures across the country are expected to rise gradually by 3-5°C until May 20.
In regards to the reason for this rise in temperature, Mahesh Palawat, president of Skymet weather, said, “The easterlies have now changed to northwesterly winds coming from central Pakistan and Rajasthan that are dry and hot. It will naturally lead to increasing temperature over the next few days, with high chances of heatwave conditions.”
The weather department has predicted heatwave conditions over isolated parts of Rajasthan between May 17 and May 23, and in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi from May 18 to May 23. Severe heatwave conditions will prevail over isolated parts of Uttar Pradesh between May 19 and May 23.
“Heat wave conditions in isolated pockets likely to prevail over Telangana during 17th -21st May,” IMD stated in its press release, while also forecasting similar conditions for Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh.
