Heatwave alert: IMD issues warning for severe hot conditions in parts of India
PTC News Desk: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning on Friday that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are expected in many parts of the country on May 18.
Taking to X, IMD stated, "Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions very likely in many pockets of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, West Rajasthan and few pockets of East Rajasthan. Heatwave conditions very likely in few/isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Saurashtra & Kutch, on 18th May, 2024."
Earlier in the day, senior IMD scientist Dr Naresh Kumar stated, "From April until the last few days, continuous western disturbances were influencing Northwest India, resulting in isolated rainfall in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. As a result, temperatures were relatively low. In May, temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius in many areas. Even today, the temperature in Rajasthan has reached 45 degrees Celsius," he said.
Temperature in Punjab, Haryana nears 44 degrees
"In Punjab and Haryana, the temperature is also near 44 degrees Celsius and the conditions of the heatwave are similar to those in Uttar Pradesh...A heatwave is likely in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh for the next 5 days and in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar for 4 days, after which there may be mild thunderstorms, due to which the temperature may drop slightly...," he said.
Similarly, in the southern states, he stated, "Heavy to very heavy rains are likely in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and South Karnataka in the next 5 days..."
According to the Met Department's weather advisory, heat to severe heat wave conditions are likely over the plains of Northwest India and Bihar for the next 5 days, with heatwave conditions beginning in East and Central India on May 18.
The Met Department also stated that a wet spell with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is very likely to persist over South Peninsular India until May 23.
- ANI
