New Delhi: Unrelenting heat continues to scorch vast swathes of India, pushing temperatures past a staggering 53 degrees Celsius along the Rajasthan-Pakistan border. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, signifying a “very high probability” of heatstroke and heat-related illnesses, for Rajasthan and Haryana. Punjab braces for a similar red alert within the next two days, with an orange alert currently in effect.
The blistering heatwave shows no signs of abating in the coming days. Phalodi in western Rajasthan has recorded a scorching 51 degrees Celsius, and similar temperatures are expected to persist for the next 3-4 days. This grim forecast has prompted the IMD to extend the red alert to include Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.
The scorching temperatures aren’t confined to the plains. Even the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya are feeling the heat’s wrath. The IMD predicts the heatwave to linger in parts of Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra until May 29th.
Delhi and surrounding areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) are also reeling under the intense heatwave. Delhi recorded a scorching 48 degrees Celsius on Monday, with Faridabad not far behind at 47 degrees Celsius. The IMD offers little solace to Delhi residents, predicting the heatwave to persist until May 30th, with a gradual decrease in intensity thereafter.
A glimmer of hope emerges in the form of potential rainfall. Skymet Weather forecasts moderate rain and thundershowers with the possibility of heavy to very heavy downpours in isolated areas of Bangladesh and Northeast India within the next 24 hours. Similar weather patterns are expected in Kerala, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Lighter rain showers are predicted for Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Sikkim.
There’s a chance of light rain in Konkan and Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and northern Odisha. While some relief might come from these showers, the maximum temperatures in Gujarat and Rajasthan are predicted to fall further. However, parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh are still likely to experience severe heatwave conditions on May 28th, with a gradual decrease expected afterward.
