Severe heatwave grips northwest India, lightning kills 10 in Bihar; rain and hailstorm likely in several states
PTC Web Desk: As scorching temperatures continue to grip large parts of the country, lightning strikes in Bihar have claimed the lives of 10 persons across three districts. Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for hailstorms in four districts and light rainfall in 27 districts of the state on Wednesday. The shift in weather is attributed to a low-pressure system formed over the Bay of Bengal and Assam, bringing moisture-laden winds towards Bihar and altering weather conditions in the northeastern region.
Heatwave intensifies in northwest India
Since the first week of April, northwestern states of India are experiencing an intense heatwave. States such as Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab are witnessing record-breaking temperatures. A heatwave alert is currently in place for 30 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Delhi has recorded temperatures above 40°C in April for the first time in 15 years. The last time such conditions were observed was in 2011.
On Tuesday, Barmer in Rajasthan recorded a scorching 47°C, marking the first time in 10 years that the mercury has soared to this level in April. Other cities in Rajasthan, including Jaisalmer, Bhilwara, and Chittorgarh, also reported extreme heat conditions.
Weather forecasting agency Skymet has, however, predicted that India will likely experience a normal monsoon this year. According to the agency, there is over an 80% probability that the monsoon will be either normal or above average, offering some relief in the coming months.
Regional heatwave update as of April 8
Most parts of western Rajasthan remained under a severe heatwave. Isolated pockets of Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh also recorded heatwave conditions. Barmer remained the hottest city in the country for the second consecutive day, recording 45.6°C on April 7 and 46.4°C the next day. Delhi and NCR registered temperatures 4-5 degrees above the seasonal average.
According to IMD, some parts of the country received light relief from the heat through rainfall and hailstorms, though the impact was mostly limited to eastern and southern regions. On April 9, hailstorms were reported in some areas of Bihar. A heavy rainfall alert has been issued for Tripura, Assam, and Meghalaya between April 8–10.
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are likely to experience light rain accompanied by thunderstorms over the next three days. Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are also expected to witness rain and hail from April 9–11.
Weather outlook for the next 2 days
The heatwave is expected to intensify further over the next 48 hours. Temperatures in Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat may rise by an additional 2–4°C. Due to the influence of a western disturbance, there is a possibility of rain and hailstorm activity in Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, the northeastern states, and parts of South India. Coastal regions such as Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, and coastal Tamil Nadu may experience increased humidity. Additionally, the formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal may bring further rainfall to the northeastern states post April 11.
- With inputs from agencies
