The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday warned that heatwave to severe heatwave is likely to continue over central and northwest India during the next two-three days.
Large parts of the country have been recording a week-long heatwave now, further exacerbated by warm nights in many places.
Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, said the extreme heat over India is the result of worsening climate change, driven largely by the world burning massive amounts of coal, oil and gas. He also said that solar and other renewable energy sources have helped meet peak times during the day, and the aggressive steps taken by India to increase solar capacity have been helpful.
“Large parts of India are already experiencing an extreme summer of extreme heat, with severe human and economic impacts, the main cause of which is worsening climate change, driven largely by the world’s burning of massive amounts of coal, oil and gas. These are testing times for those living in homes without cooling or working long hours outdoors. These extreme conditions highlight the importance of taking measures to adapt to climate impacts globally,” Steel said.
He said India’s large capacity in renewable energy helped. “India has also witnessed a record peak in electricity demand in recent days. Solar and other renewable energy sources have helped meet peak times during the day, and the aggressive steps taken by India to increase solar capacity have been helpful,” he added.
Read also:Monsoon has not yet reached Kerala, heat wave continues in central and northwest India: IMD
“India’s extreme temperatures are a reminder of the potential for domestic clean energy and energy efficiency measures that can help provide cooling to the most vulnerable, and provide safer, more affordable electricity to help power homes, businesses, vital health services and electric transportation,” Steele said. He also added that this heatwave is doubly challenging, “coming amidst the current fossil fuel cost crisis – with imported fossil fuel prices rising around the world” due to conflict in West Asia.
He said it is “a double reminder of the need for countries to move faster towards renewable energy sources, for the sake of energy security, affordability and to protect populations and economies.”
“This period has been quite prolonged. This is mainly due to the hot and dry westerly winds coming into India. There was no weather system to break this wave. Also, the nights were very warm making it very uncomfortable for people,” said Mahesh Palawat, Vice President, Climate and Meteorology, Skymet Weather.
There is likely to be a drop in maximum temperatures and a subsidence of the heatwave from May 29 onwards.
Heavy to very heavy rains are likely over northeastern India and neighboring eastern India during the next two-three days, over southern peninsular India, and over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal until May 29.
The IMD has warned of moderate to severe thunderstorm activity with gusty wind speed up to 70 kmph over northwest India, central India and eastern India from May 28 to 30.
On Tuesday, the maximum temperature ranged between 45 and 47 degrees Celsius over Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, eastern Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Vidarbha, and between 40 and 45 degrees Celsius in the rest of the country except northeastern India, the western Himalayan region, the western coast and interior Tamil Nadu.
The highest maximum temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius was reported in Banda, Uttar Pradesh.
Heat wave is very likely in some isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh on May 27-28; With severe heatwave in some pockets of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on May 27.
Heatwave is very likely to occur in some isolated pockets of western Rajasthan during May 27-29; eastern Rajasthan on May 28; With intense heatwave in some pockets of western Rajasthan on May 28.
Heat wave is also very likely in isolated pockets over Madhya Pradesh until May 29; Chhattisgarh on May 28 with intense heatwave in isolated pockets of western Madhya Pradesh; East Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha on May 28.
