It’s hot! Will get hotter, says Met as Punjab sizzles at over 40 degrees

Heat wave conditions continued to sweep the region with major cities registering temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.

A heat wave continued to sweep the northern region with major cities registering temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius on Wednesday. Unfortunately, the coming days will offer no respite. The meteorological department has issued severe heat wave warnings for Punjab and Haryana.

In Punjab, Amritsar recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2 degree, three notches above normal. Ludhiana recorded a maximum of 42.6, and Patiala braved the hot weather at 42.3 degrees, three above normal here too. The maximum temperature in Chandigarh settled at 41.7 degrees Celsius, four notches higher than normal.

Click for pics: Shades of heat

What is a heat wave?

According to the National Disaster Management Authority website, a heat wave is a “period of abnormally high temperatures, more than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the North-Western parts of India. Heat Waves typically occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July. The extreme temperatures and resultant atmospheric conditions adversely affect people living in these regions as they cause physiological stress, sometimes resulting in death.”