Severe Heatwave Grips Large Parts of Northwest India
An intense heatwave is sweeping across a vast region of northwest India, extending from Ladakh to Jharkhand. In Prayagraj, temperatures soared to 47.6 degrees Celsius, while even the high-altitude Nubra in the Himalayas recorded 26.2 degrees. The India Meteorological Department reported that maximum temperatures were significantly above normal, exceeding 5.1 degrees Celsius in places like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Bihar. The national capital saw temperatures over 45 degrees Celsius, a stark seven-degree increase from the seasonal norm. Similarly, Dehradun in Uttarakhand experienced a high of 43.1 degrees Celsius, 9.5 degrees above normal, and Jammu touched 44.3 degrees Celsius.
In states like Punjab and Haryana, the heatwave showed no signs of abating. Bathinda and Pindara both recorded scorching temperatures of 46.9 degrees Celsius. In Chandigarh, the temperature reached 44.5 degrees Celsius, while other cities like Faridkot and Pathankot also faced severe heat with temperatures around 46 degrees. In Haryana, cities including Faridabad and Sirsa sizzled with temperatures of 46.6 and 46.2 degrees Celsius respectively. Rajasthan also experienced extreme heat, with Ganganagar hitting 46.2 degrees Celsius and Pilani 45.9 degrees, while other cities like Churu, Karauli, and Bikaner recorded temperatures above 44 degrees.
The weather forecast predicts no immediate relief for northwest India, with high temperatures persisting for the next 24 hours before a slight decrease. However, central and eastern India will continue to face high temperatures for the next three days. Night temperatures in Rajasthan were notably high, with Alwar recording a low of 37 degrees Celsius, which is 4.9 degrees above normal, and Phalodi registering 34.6 degrees, 8.1 degrees above average. The ongoing severe heatwave conditions have left many regions grappling with extreme heat and minimal nighttime relief.
