Heatwave batters India as mercury nears 45°C, but relief likely in northwestern plains soon, says IMD

Heatwave in India: Heatwave conditions continued to prevail on Tuesday as the temperature crossed the 40 degrees Celsius mark in most parts of the country. However, the IMD has predicted some relief from the soaring temperatures in the plains of northwest India starting Tuesday. 

Heatwave conditions continued to prevail on Tuesday as the temperature crossed the 40 degrees Celsius mark in most parts of the country. In Delhi, too, hot weather conditions persisted for the third consecutive day with some weather stations recording the maximum temperature at least five degrees Celsius above normal.

However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said a western disturbance active in the western Himalayan region will provide some relief from the soaring temperatures in the plains of northwest India starting Tuesday.

"Latest Satellite and radar observations show the movement of an intense convective cloud mass across Punjab, Haryana, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, leading to favorable conditions for light to moderate rainfall with occasional intense spells of intense rain along with isolated thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hailstorms over the region during next 3-4 hours," IMD said.

HEATWAVE BATTERIES IN PARTS OF INDIA

Heatwave conditions have been prevailing in most parts of the country with the maximum temperature hovering near 45 degrees Celsius in some states. In Haryana, sizzling heat swept across Hisar as the mercury settled at 41.4 degrees Celsius, according to the MeT department.

In Punjab, Bathinda recorded a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius. The mercury settled at 36.6 degrees Celsius in Amritsar and at 41.2 degrees Celsius in Patiala.

Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a high of 39.4 degrees Celsius. Notably, the maximum temperatures in the two states have been hovering above normal limits for the past one week.

Gangetic West Bengal also sizzled under high day temperatures on Tuesday, as the mercury hovered over 40 degrees Celsius in several places, with heatwave conditions prevailing in the western districts, the Met Department said.

The weather department has predicted severe heatwave conditions in isolated pockets in Gangetic West Bengal for the next two days. Hot and humid weather is very likely to continue in Kolkata and adjoining areas.