Temperatures in the national capital, Delhi, broke a 5-year high, while most parts of Haryana and Punjab remained above 40 degrees. A severe heatwave has been wreaking havoc on parts of North India. The weather service, on the other hand, forecasted some relief in the region over the next three days.
Cloudy conditions are expected in Delhi on Tuesday, according to the Indian Metrological Department (IMD), and a western disturbance may bring isolated rain to parts of Haryana and Punjab on Wednesday, as per IMD.
Delhi Weather:
According to IMD data, Delhi's maximum temperature on Monday was 42.6 degrees Celsius, seven degrees above normal and the highest in April in five years. It's also the first time in 72 years that such a high temperature has been recorded in the first half of April in the nation's capital.
So far in April, the capital has experienced five heatwave days, the most in at least 12 years. According to IMD data, it had four such days in April 2017.
On April 21, 2017, the city had a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius. On April 29, 1941, the month's highest maximum temperature was 45.6 degrees Celsius.
With a maximum temperature of 44.1 degrees Celsius, the Sports Complex weather station was the hottest spot in Delhi. In most parts of the city, the temperature rose above 42 degrees Celsius.
From Tuesday, cloudy conditions will provide some relief from the sweltering heat. However, a 'yellow' alert for a heatwave is still in effect in parts of the capital.
Weather across States:
Haryana, too, was engulfed in the sweltering heat. According to the Meteorological Centre, Chandigarh, a high of 45.3 degrees Celsius was recorded in Bopani, Faridabad.
The maximum temperature in Gurugram and Hisar was 44.2 degrees Celsius. In Narnaul, the temperature reached 43.5 degrees Celsius, while in Bhiwani, it reached 42.5 degrees Celsius.
The highest temperature was 43.2 degrees Celsius in Rohtak, 41.2 degrees Celsius in Ambala, and 43.7 degrees Celsius in Sirsa. A maximum temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius was recorded in Bathinda, Punjab.
41.2 degrees Celsius in Amritsar, 41.5 degrees Celsius in Ludhiana, 42.6 degrees Celsius in Patiala, and 41.7 degrees Celsius in Jalandhar.
The temperature in Chandigarh, the two states' shared capital, reached 40.7 degrees Celsius. On Wednesday, a western disturbance could bring isolated rain to parts of Haryana and Punjab, according to the IMD.
Dust-raising winds of 20-30 kmph are expected over southern Haryana and Punjab on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the forecast. The respite, however, will be brief, as temperatures will rise again in three days, according to the IMD.
"From the 13th of April, the spatial extent and intensity of the Heat Wave Spell is likely to decrease over Northwest India...," it said.
"No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over most parts of Northwest India today," it said, adding that temperatures would gradually fall by 2-30 degrees Celsius over the next three days before increasing.
According to IMD officials, a prolonged dry spell in northwest India has resulted in "severe" hot weather conditions. In April, the weather department predicts more intense and frequent heatwaves in northwest India and adjoining parts of central India.
A 'heatwave' is declared in the plains when the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and is at least 4.5 degrees above normal. According to the IMD, a severe heatwave' is defined as a temperature difference of more than 6.4 notches from normal.
