As the capital braces for another scorching day with temperatures expected to touch 37°C, residents are urged to prepare for the heatwave gripping the city. While the skies will be partly cloudy, allowing sunlight to sear through during the day, relief might be on the horizon with forecasts of rainfall and snowfall across various regions.
Embracing the Heat: Coping Strategies for a Hot Day
With the mercury rising, residents need to adopt effective strategies to beat the heat. From staying hydrated to seeking shade during peak hours, prioritizing self-care measures becomes imperative. Additionally, opting for light and breathable clothing can offer some respite from the sweltering temperatures.
IMD's Weather Systems and Forecast & Warnings
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued forecasts indicating significant weather patterns across various regions. A cyclonic circulation over northeast Assam and its surroundings and a trough in westerlies are expected to influence weather conditions. As per the IMD:
Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning, is anticipated over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from March 26 to March 30, 2024.
Isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh and isolated heavy rainfall over Assam and Meghalaya on March 26 and 30, 2024.
Isolated light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning is expected over Gangetic West Bengal on March 26 and from March 28 to 30, 2024.
Western Disturbances Expected to Affect Himalayan Region
Furthermore, a Western Disturbance as a trough in mid and upper tropospheric westerlies is forecasted along Long. 50°E to the north of Lat. 28°N. Another fresh Western Disturbance is likely to impact the Western Himalayan Region from March 29, 2024. Under these influences:
Scattered to fairly widespread light rainfall/snowfall with isolated thunderstorms & lightning is anticipated over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from March 26 to March 30, 2024.
Isolated hailstorms are also expected over certain regions on specific dates as mentioned in the forecast.
The IMD has provided insights into maximum temperature forecasts for the upcoming days:
Yesterday, maximum temperatures soared between 36-40°C over many parts of peninsular India and Gujarat, with some areas in south Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh experiencing above-normal temperatures by 1-3°C.
Currently, maximum temperatures are exceeding the 95th percentile of climatological values at isolated pockets of certain regions, with forecasts suggesting further increases in temperatures over specific areas in the coming days.
No significant changes in maximum temperatures are expected over East India for the next 3 days, with a gradual rise by 2-3°C thereafter.
Central India is likely to experience a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 2-4°C over the next 2-3 days, with no significant changes thereafter.
The rest of the country is expected to see no significant changes in maximum temperatures over the next 5 days.
Hot and humid weather is predicted to prevail over certain regions, while warm nights are anticipated in isolated places during specific periods as outlined in the forecast.
