Children cool off in a pond of water during summer
Delhi heatwave: The India Meteorological Department said on Thursday that the maximum temperatures will drop by a few degrees over the weekend in Delhi-NCR and other parts of northwest India, but no major relief is likely till June 15.
It said that the moisture-laden easterly winds would bring much relief from the scorching heat after June 16.
Heatwave conditions prevailed over parts of Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Odisha on Thursday, with Faridabad in the National Capital Region being the hottest place in the country at 47.1 degrees Celsius.
At least 32 towns and cities in these states recorded maximum temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius.
Northwest and central India is in the grip of heat wave since June 2 due to the onslaught of hot and dry westerly winds.
“The ongoing heatwave spell is less intense than that recorded in April-end and May, but the area of impact is almost equal,” said senior IMD scientist RK Jenamani.
The IMD official said that pre-monsoon activity is predicted over East Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha from June 12, but north Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and North Madhya Pradesh will see above-normal temperatures.
“There may be some relief in parts of Northwest India including Delhi-NCR on June 11-12. It will be cloudy over the weekend but there is no chance of rain,” he said.
Till June 15, the temperature will be between 40 degree Celsius and 43 degree Celsius.
“Thunderstorm and rain may occur in this region from June 16 onwards due to moisture-laden easterly winds, which is expected to bring considerable relief from the heat,” he said.
In an extended range forecast, the IMD said that between June 16 and June 22, the maximum temperature in the country is likely to be “below normal to normal”.
“No significant heatwave is likely over any part of the country during the week (June 16-June 22),” it said.
Asked whether the monsoon would reach Delhi-NCR and other parts of northwest India around the normal date, Genmani said it was too early to say anything.
Last year, the IMD had predicted that the monsoon would arrive in Delhi about two weeks before its normal date (June 27).
However, it reached the capital and surrounding areas only on July 13, making it the most delayed in 19 years.
The monsoon had entered the “break” phase and made almost no progress from June 20 to July 8.
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