New Delhi, April 24, 2024: In its latest weather bulletin for the next five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a heatwave in parts of Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, with the maximum temperature likely to increase by at least 3 to 4 degrees.
As a result of the intense heat, the weather office has issued a heatwave alert for state’s Thane, Raigad districts, as well as parts of Mumbai from April 27 to 29.
IMD scientist Sushma Nair has attributed the cause of the temperature rise to an anti-cyclonic circulation over Thane, Raigad and parts of Mumbai, PTI news agency reported.
This is the second heatwave alert issued for Mumbai and neighbouring regions this month.
On April 15 and 16, Mumbai and its neighbouring areas witnessed severe hot weather and temperatures in parts of Navi Mumbai reached 41 degrees Celsius.
According to the IMD bulletin, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will continue in parts of West Bengal and Odisha for five days.
On Monday, Odisha state capital Bhubaneswar registered 43.8 degrees Celsius as the maximum temperature.
The weather bureau said the maximum temperature in Odisha will continue to exceed 40 degrees Celsius until April 28.
Earlier this month, the Odisha government ordered the closure of schools in view of the extreme weather conditions.
Meanwhile, parts of Tamil Nadu will witness a heatwave on Tuesday, while it will continue in Karnataka, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh from Tuesday to April 28.
Naresh Kumar, an IMD scientist, told ANI news agency that the temperature could reach 44 degrees Celsius in eastern India in the next five days.
"In Delhi, our estimate is that the temperature is expected to remain around 38 degrees Celsius in the coming 2–3 days. Presently, the temperature has reached 44 degrees at one or two stations in eastern India. In the next five days, the entire region will register 44 degrees. But in northwest India, the temperature will only spike to 41 degrees," he added.
On Tuesday evening, Delhi witnessed a sudden change in the weather, with a brief spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms lashing the city.
The inclement weather led to at least 15 Delhi-bound flights being diverted.
As a result of the intense summer heat, the IMD has advised people to avoid prolonged heat exposure, drink sufficient water and stay hydrated, wear light coloured, loose and cotton clothes, cover their head or use wet cloth or hat or umbrella while going out during afternoon hours, and schedule strenuous jobs during cooler times of the day.
Courtesy: India Today