After a brief respite, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to soar to 47 degrees Celsius in the coming days. An orange alert has been issued for the National Capital Region (NCR) from June 11 to 13 due to anticipated heatwave conditions.
On Monday, Delhi’s temperature breached the 43-degree mark for the second consecutive day, with a recorded high of 43.4 degrees Celsius, 3.5 degrees above the season’s average. Several areas experienced even higher temperatures, with Narela hitting 46.6 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest spot in the region. Najafgarh followed closely at 46.3 degrees, Aya Nagar at 44.7 degrees, Lodhi Road at 43.8 degrees, and Palam at 44.1 degrees.
The IMD has predicted mainly clear skies with heatwave conditions and gusty winds ranging from 25 to 35 km per hour on Tuesday. The expected maximum and minimum temperatures are 44 and 30 degrees Celsius, respectively.
According to the IMD, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains or 30 degrees Celsius in hilly regions for a minimum of two consecutive days across at least two stations in a meteorological subdivision. A “severe heatwave” is declared when the temperature deviation exceeds 6.4 degrees from the normal.
Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon is likely to enter parts of south Gujarat within the next 48 hours, bringing light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms. Gujarat has been experiencing intense heatwave conditions, making the upcoming monsoon a much-anticipated relief.
In Maharashtra, Mumbai saw the onset of the southwest monsoon on Sunday, two days ahead of the usual schedule. This led to widespread rains and water-logging. The IMD has forecasted more thunderstorms with moderate to heavy showers for Mumbai on Monday.
