Large parts of north and central India remained in the grip of extreme heat on Saturday, with temperatures continuing to hover above 45 degrees Celsius in several regions as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of persistent heatwave to severe heatwave conditions over the coming days.
Maharashtra’s Brahmapuri recorded the highest maximum temperature in the country at 47.2 degrees Celsius on Friday, while heatwave conditions prevailed across parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh, according to the IMD.
Heatwave conditions persist across north and central India
The IMD has forecast heatwave to severe heatwave conditions over Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and parts of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh till May 28.
Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi are also likely to remain under heatwave conditions from May 24 to 28, with severe heatwave conditions expected in isolated pockets between May 24 and 27.
Rajasthan is expected to continue reeling under intense heat through the week, with severe heatwave conditions likely over western parts of the state from May 24 onwards.
Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh are also likely to witness heatwave conditions during the next few days.
Warm night conditions are expected over Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Odisha and Telangana, adding to discomfort levels, while hot and humid weather is likely over Gangetic West Bengal and parts of Tamil Nadu.
Delhi weather forecast
Delhi is unlikely to witness any heatwave alert on Saturday, although hot weather conditions are expected to persist with temperatures remaining above normal.
According to the Met Department, strong surface winds reaching 20-30 kmph and gusting up to 40 kmph are likely during daytime hours under mainly clear skies.
The IMD has forecast heatwave conditions over Delhi from May 24 onwards, with severe heatwave conditions likely in isolated pockets between May 24 and 27.
Past weather observations
According to the IMD, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed at most places over Vidarbha on Friday, while heatwave conditions were reported from parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Brahmapuri in Vidarbha region, which falls under Maharashtra’s Nagpur division, recorded the highest maximum temperature in the country at 47.2 degrees Celsius on Friday.
Maximum temperatures remained significantly above normal over Uttarakhand and parts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
The IMD also reported rainfall activity across several parts of the country during the past 24 hours. Heavy rainfall was recorded at isolated places in Assam and Meghalaya, with Silchar in Assam receiving 11 cm of rainfall.
Rain, thunderstorms likely in several regions
While large parts of north and central India continue to reel under extreme heat, several regions in northeast, east and south India are expected to receive rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over the next few days.
Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura are likely to witness widespread rainfall activity, with very heavy rainfall forecast over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya till May 25.
Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh are also likely to receive light to moderate rainfall along with thunderstorms and gusty winds till May 28.
Parts of West Bengal and Sikkim are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall between May 23 and 26, while Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha may witness thunderstorms and gusty winds through the week.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are also likely to receive isolated rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds over the next few days.
