Heatwaves surge across India

NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius (°C) on Thursday, the highest April temperature in 12 years as a heatwave continued to rage across vast swathes of India. Prayagraj, in Uttar Pradesh was the hottest city in the country on Thursday, with a maximum of 45.9°C.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that the heatwave will become more intense over the next five days, with temperatures likely to touch 45°C in some parts of the country.

Behind the heatwave is a so-called anti-cyclone, which is expected to last till early next week. “The heatwave is mainly because of a strong anti-cyclone over the north Arabian Sea which is bringing hot, westerly winds. There is likely to be relief from May 2 because we are expecting a strong western disturbance (a cyclonic movement). Maximum temperatures will drop to 37-38°C over parts of northweat India,” said R K Jenamani , senior scientist, national weather forecasting centre, IMD.

But until then, many parts of the country will continue to swelter under hot and dry conditions. According to IMD’s gridded dataset, the average maximum temperature till April 27 was 35.7°C, the highest in five years for this month. However, this headline number hides just how hot northwest India has been. In four states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Gujarat – the average maximum temperature in April 2022 so far has been the highest since 1951; while it has been the second highest in Delhi (including neighbouring districts), UP, and Haryana.

And many parts of the country have seen no rain in April. Rainfall in April so far in states like Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand,

Jharkhand, and Telangana is in the bottom 20 since 1901, according to IMD. However, average rainfall till April 27 across India was 44.23mm, 19th highest since 1901, largely due to rainfall in north-eastern and some southern states.

Things will only get worse between Friday and Monday. Delhi, for instance, may see the mercury cross 44°C on Friday.

IMD has issued an orange alert for Rajasthan on April 28 and 29 and a yellow alert for almost the entire country except parts of peninsular and east

India. An orange alert is a warning to administrators to be prepared for imminent heat waves; a yellow alert is to warn them to be watchful.

For April 30, May 1 and 2, IMD has issued an orange alert for MP, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh and a yellow alert for the rest of the country except the peninsular region. According to IMD, maximum temperatures will increase by 2°C across most parts of northwest India on April 29 and 30, and fall only after