Delhi-NCR braces for severe heatwave as temperatures near 45°C

A fresh spell of intense heat is set to grip Delhi and surrounding NCR regions over the next few days, with temperatures likely to climb up to 45 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The IMD has forecast predominantly hot and dry weather conditions across the national capital till May 23 and issued a yellow alert for May 19 and 20, warning residents about the possibility of heatwave conditions.Weather officials said maximum temperatures across Delhi-NCR are expected to remain in the range of 42 to 45 degrees Celsius, with the mercury likely to rise gradually by another 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over the coming days.Under IMD norms, heatwave conditions in plains are declared when temperatures touch at least 40 degrees Celsius and stay considerably above seasonal averages. A severe heatwave is categorised when the departure from normal exceeds 6.4 degrees Celsius or when temperatures cross 45 degrees Celsius. In such conditions prolonged exposure to extreme heat could trigger dehydration, fatigue and heatstroke, especially among children, elderly people and those involved in outdoor occupations.The capital may witness partly cloudy conditions on Sunday along with isolated thunderstorm activity and gusty winds reaching speeds of 20 to 30 kmph, occasionally touching 40 kmph. However, meteorologists said the brief spell of cloud cover is unlikely to bring major relief, with temperatures expected to hover around 44 degrees Celsius.
Forecasters added that clearer skies later this week may push temperatures even higher, while warmer nights could make conditions more uncomfortable for residents.Several parts of north and central India are also likely to experience heatwave conditions in the coming days, including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Chhattisgarh.
The IMD also indicated that temperatures across the western Himalayan belt could rise by around 3 to 4 degrees Celsius during this period.Meanwhile,parts of northeast and southern India are expected to receive moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds. States such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh may continue to witness unstable weather over the next few days.