Large swathes of north and central India are bracing for a prolonged period of intense heat, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a warning for severe heatwave conditions expected to persist for at least another week. Relief from the scorching temperatures is only likely to arrive from May 29 onwards, according to the latest weather bulletin.
Widespread Heatwave Conditions Expected
The IMD's special weather forecast indicates that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will continue over central and northwest India throughout the next week. East and adjoining peninsular India are also expected to experience similar conditions for the next three to five days.
Specific regions under heatwave alert include:
- Chhattisgarh: May 24th-27th
- Odisha: May 24th-28th
- Bihar, Jharkhand, and Telangana: May 24th-26th
- Jammu-Kashmir: May 26th & 27th
- Himachal Pradesh: May 26th-28th
- Rajasthan: Heatwave from May 24th-30th, with severe conditions over West Rajasthan during the same period.
Additionally, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi are forecast to experience heatwave conditions from May 24th-28th, with severe heatwave conditions in some pockets between May 25th-27th.
Record Temperatures and Nighttime Heat Stress
Over the past 24 hours, many parts of Vidarbha, along with isolated pockets of Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan, recorded heatwave conditions. Maximum temperatures across central India, adjoining Uttar Pradesh, and parts of peninsular India ranged between 43-47 degrees Celsius. Brahmpuri, in Vidarbha, registered the country's highest temperature at 47.1 degrees Celsius.
The IMD also highlighted unusually high night temperatures in parts of Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Odisha, and West Bengal, exacerbating the overall heat stress on residents. States like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have already reported extreme temperatures, with parts of Andhra Pradesh exceeding 48 degrees Celsius this season.
Potential Relief and Contrasting Rainfall
While much of northern and central India endures severe heat, the IMD has also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Meghalaya, and other northeastern states in the coming days. A fresh western disturbance is expected to influence northwest India from May 28, which could potentially lead to a drop in temperatures and offer some much-needed relief from the prolonged heat spell.