Heatwave Sweeps Through Northwest India, April Temperature In Delhi Hits 12-Year High

Most of northwestern India is in the grip of an acute heat wave and the it is only predicted to get worse in the coming days before there is some respite.

In Delhi, the maximum temperature expected to touch 44 degrees Celsius on Friday, April 29, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

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Hottest April in 12 years

On Thursday (April 28, 2022) Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius, as per the Safdarjung observatory data, the highest in April in 12 years.

The national capital had recorded a maximum temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius on April 18, 2010.

The all-time record for April month is 45.6 degrees Celsius on April 29, 1941.

The Met office has issued an "orange" alert, warning Delhi residents of a severe heatwave on Friday as the temperature is set to rise to 44 degrees during the day.

Delhi, however, was not the worst affected in India due to the heat wave on Thursday.

45 degrees and above in other places

Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest maximum temperature of 45.9 degrees Celsius and at least three dozen places recorded maximum temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed.

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Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail till at least May 1 in northwest and central India and for next three days in east India.

Heat wave conditions over Northwest & Central India during next 5 days and over East India during next 3 days and abate thereafter.

Rain/Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning/gusty winds likely to continue over Northeast India. pic.twitter.com/Ymgi2eOU4B

¡ª India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 28, 2022

"The heat wave is likely to abate in east India by May 1 and in northwest and central India by May 2. April this year is likely to be one of the hottest on record, although we would get confirmation of this only when the data comes in at the end of the month," Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general of IMD, said.

Moderate rains likely After May 2

Due to a fresh western disturbance, there is a possibility of light or moderate rainfall over northwest Himalayan region during May 2-4 while plains of northwest India are likely to receive isolated light rainfall during May 3-4.

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Dust storm is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Friday, IMD warned.

These #heatwave conditions will last until the end of this month with sultry conditions affecting the residents of North India. However, heat wave conditions may see a backseat in the beginning of May.https://t.co/yciLuPZITh

¡ª SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) April 27, 2022

Senior IMD scientist RK Jenamani had earlier said that Delhi-NCR and entire northwest Indian plains had received no significant rainfall after February 25 and the earliest that these areas can expect relief is on May 2 when there is a possibility of significant rainfall due to a Western Disturbance then.

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According to him, April 2010 was the hottest till date for all India, and only by the end of the month it can be said if 2022 was hotter.

"This year, even when northwest India and large parts of central India are witnessing extreme heat, the northeast region, Kerala, large parts of Tamil Nadu are experiencing heavy rainfall. So, we have to wait till April 30 to see how it averages out," he said.

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