IMD Issues Alert For 10 States; Temperature Crosses 40 Degrees In Delhi, UP, Punjab, Haryana

New Delhi: Severe heat continues to grip northern Indian states on Wednesday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a heatwave alert for Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. Temperature in the national capital are rising rapidly and are expected to reach 42 degrees Celsius to 44 degrees Celsius and the IMD has also issued a yellow alert.

What did the IMD say?

The India Meteorological Department has issued a heatwave warning for Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab in the coming days. Most parts of northern and western India are experiencing intense heat these days. Meanwhile, another western disturbance is bringing relief in two days. The IMD has also issued a yellow alert for the national capital.

The IMD has warned in its latest report that heatwave will trouble Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, Odisha and the Union Territory of Chandigarh during the next few days.

"Heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in Punjab & Haryana for the next four days, and in eastern UP for the next five days and from tomorrow in western UP," IMD said.

What about temperature in Haryana?

Haryana will experience heatwaves and "hot nights," with temperatures expected to exceed normal even at night. Severe heat and dry weather are expected in both western and eastern Uttar Pradesh for the next 4-5 days.

How will be the weather in Punjab?

Punjab will also see mainly clear skies, with strong sunshine likely to lead to heat waves. In contrast, a new western disturbance is expected to become active in the hilly states of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir from Thursday.

Will it rain in mountains?

It may rain in the mountains. This could bring light rain to these areas and snowfall to the higher mountains in the coming days, bringing a slight drop in temperatures and providing relief from the heat to locals and tourists. For now, residents of the plains have been advised to avoid afternoon exposure and drink plenty of water.

What is the alert for Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh?

According to scientific standards, a heatwave is declared only when temperatures rise above 40 degrees Celsius, but this time many cities have exceeded this threshold. Heatwave alerts were issued for Bihar, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday. IMD has issued a heatwave 'yellow' alert across Bihar and eastern regions. 

Why is the heat so intense?

Several major factors are contributing to this unusual heat. The most significant is that April is typically considered the pre-monsoon heat period, but this time, due to clear skies, the sun's rays are directly warming the earth without any obstruction, leading to a sharp rise in temperatures.