Summer 2024 is only getting more intense, as unbearable heatwaves scorch large parts of North India. The mercury touched 47.8 degrees Celsius in Delhi’s Najafgarh, nearly seven notches above normal and the highest in the country. A day before the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 20, the weather department was compelled to issue a red warning for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan as well as an orange warning for Uttar Pradesh till May 23.
A red warning signals the need to take urgent action as there is a high likelihood of developing heat-related illness and heat stroke in all ages, and extreme care is needed to protect those vulnerable.
Temperatures have hovered around 43 degrees Celsius to 46 degrees Celsius across northwest India, from Punjab and Haryana to Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. The IMD has warned that the mercury is set to rise by another two degrees in this region after May 21, even as hot and dry surface winds of 25 to 30 kmph continue to aggravate the heat conditions.
The heat has been further exacerbated by the absence of rain, with no precipitation expected this week. The temperatures are also likely to rise over central India by two to three degrees in the coming days.
Mercury to remain around 44℃ to 45℃ across Delhi till May 25
A searing heat wave has also swept the national capital, with maximum temperatures recorded nearly six to seven notches above normal at Lodhi Road (44.6℃), Pitampura (47℃), Mungeshpur (47.7℃), and the highest at Najafgarh (47.8℃). The temperatures during the night are also settling around 28℃ to 29℃, triggering warm conditions in several areas. The mercury is expected to remain around 44℃ to 45℃ in Delhi till May 25, as per IMD.
The heat has been intense across Haryana as well, surging past 47℃ in Sirsa and Nuh. Punjab’s highest maximum temperature was recorded at 46.4℃ in Bathinda.
At least 10 meteorological stations in Rajasthan recorded temperatures above 45℃ with the highest at 46.7℃ in Ganganagar. The mercury peaked at 47.5℃ in Datia in northern Madhya Pradesh, and 47.7℃ in Agra – highest for Uttar Pradesh – followed by 47.2℃ in Jhansi.
Heatwave warnings were issued for some districts where voting for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections is scheduled on Monday. This includes parliamentary constituencies of Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur, Kaushambi, Jalaun and Fatehpur in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 49 constituencies across eight states and union territories are set to vote.
The weather department has predicted an unusually higher number of heatwave days this summer due to changing global conditions.
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