14 States To Experience Heat Wave Till May 2, Delhi's Maximum Temperature To Hit 44

The unusually hot summer is showing its true colours across India as the mercury is settling several degrees above the normal in many states.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that maximum temperatures are set to rise by about 2 degrees Celsius very likely over most parts of northwest India during next three days.

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Heat wave across states

"Heat wave conditions would continue over Vidarbha, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh during next five days, over Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, interior Gangetic West Bengal and interior Odisha till April 30, over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi till May 1, Bihar till April 29, over Chhattisgarh during April 28-30, and northern parts of Gujarat on April 28."

On Wednesday, heat wave conditions prevailed in some parts of Gangetic West Bengal and in isolated pockets over Bihar, western Rajasthan, Odisha, Vidarbha and Saurashtra Kutch.

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Across these states, maximum temperatures ranged between 43 degrees Celsius and 45.6 degrees Celsius (at Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh, followed by 45.5 degrees Celsius at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh), IMD data showed.

Delhi to hit 44 degrees on Friday

According to IMD, Delhi's minimum temperature was recorded at 23 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, a degree below the season's average.

"Heatwave is likely to sweep across the region with the maximum temperature hovering around 43 degrees Celsius on Thursday," an IMD official said.

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The temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory - Delhi's base station - is also expected to touch 44 degrees Celsius by Friday, the weather office predicted.

Very light rains likely

While the heat wave is likely to continue till May 2, there is some good new for Delhi and adjoining areas after Friday.

Very light isolated rainfall with dust storms/thunderstorms is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh on April 29 and over Rajasthan on both April 29 and 30.

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Meanwhile, under the influence of another fresh Western Disturbance likely to affect northwest India from May 2, light/moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm/lightning likely over Western Himalayan Region during May 2-4.

The heat wave is hitting India at a time when the country is facing a power generation crisis due to the coal shortage.

India is getting too hot

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Wednesday said that India is getting too hot too early, raising the risk of fires.

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"Temperatures are rising rapidly in the country, and rising much earlier than usual," Modi told state chief ministers during an online conference.

"During such a time, we are seeing increasing incidents of fires in various places - in jungles, important buildings and in hospitals - in the past few days."

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