The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of severe heatwave conditions in northwest, central, and eastern India, with temperatures in the Delhi NCR region expected to reach between 42 to 44 degrees Celsius. As parts of the country prepare for rain and gusty winds, India is set to experience a combination of intense heat and scattered thunderstorms in the coming days.
Odisha’s Jharsuguda recorded the highest temperature in the country at 44.6°C during the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on April 23, according to the IMD’s weather bulletin.
The IMD noted that daytime temperatures across large areas of Vidarbha, Marathwada, Chhattisgarh, eastern Madhya Pradesh, and eastern Uttar Pradesh ranged from 40 to 44 degrees Celsius.
Heatwave conditions are “very likely” to continue in isolated pockets of northwest and central India for the next four to five days, and in eastern India for the next two to three days.
Regions such as Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and parts of Uttar Pradesh are expected to remain under the influence of heatwaves until April 27, while Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Jharkhand may experience these conditions on April 24 and 25.
For Delhi-NCR, the IMD forecasts mainly clear skies on April 24, with maximum temperatures between 42-44 degrees Celsius. Isolated heatwave conditions are anticipated, with temperatures significantly above normal.
On April 25, similar conditions are expected to persist, although there may be cloud formation and potential “thundery development towards afternoon/evening,” according to the IMD.
By April 26, the sky is likely to be partly cloudy, with a slight decrease in temperatures, although they will still remain above normal.
In contrast, the IMD has predicted widespread rainfall and thunderstorms in the northeast and parts of eastern India throughout the week.
States including Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and the northeastern hill states are likely to experience widespread rainfall accompanied by lightning and gusty winds. The IMD has also issued warnings for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall in these regions between April 25 and 29.
Eastern states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal are also expected to receive scattered rainfall, with thunderstorms and wind speeds reaching up to 50 km/h.
Thundersqualls with gusts up to 70 km/h are likely in parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal between April 25 and 28.
