The temperature in Delhi may rise to more than 40 degrees Celsius over the next week, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting a heatwave in the capital.
The Meteorological Department expects the country to witness a long-lasting heat wave on Monday, with the maximum temperature reaching 45 degrees Celsius.
“The maximum and minimum temperatures over Delhi are likely to range between 43°C to 45°C and 25°C to 27°C respectively,” an IMD press release said in its forecast for Monday (May 18).
However, the Meteorological Department did not immediately issue a colour-coded alert. It is expected that surface winds will be strong, reaching speeds of 20-30 kilometers per hour, and sometimes reaching 40 kilometers per hour during the day.
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Maximum temperatures range from 43 to 45 degrees Celsius
The Meteorological Department, in its press release, said that maximum temperatures in Delhi will remain between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius from May 18 to 20.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature is also expected to be higher than normal at most places over Delhi for the duration. “The maximum temperatures over Delhi are expected to remain above normal over the coming days and heatwave conditions are likely to develop from May 18,” an IMD official said, as per an earlier HT report.
On Saturday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius, which is about 0.4 degrees Celsius above normal, and a minimum temperature of 24.8 degrees Celsius, which is 1.7 degrees Celsius below normal. On Sunday also, the maximum temperature crossed 40 degrees Celsius.
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Heat wave warning for northwest and central India
Meanwhile, the IMD has forecast heatwave conditions in several northern states and union territories, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi. Temperatures across the country are expected to gradually rise by 3-5 degrees Celsius until May 20.
Regarding the reason for this rise in temperature, Mahesh Palawat, Head of Skymet Weather, said: “The easterly winds have now changed to northwesterly winds coming from central Pakistan and Rajasthan, which are dry and hot. This will naturally lead to a rise in temperatures over the next few days, with high chances of a heat wave occurring.”
The Meteorological Department has forecast heatwave conditions over isolated parts of Rajasthan between May 17 and 23, and in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi from May 18 to 23. Severe heatwave conditions will prevail in isolated parts of Uttar Pradesh between May 19 and 23.
“Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Telangana during May 17-21,” the IMD said in its press release, while also predicting similar conditions in Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh.
