Weather Update: This state to witness severe heatwave, temperature to touch 46 degrees, yellow alert issued

On the precipice of another heatwave spell, the national capital is predicted to witness a jump of two to three degrees Celsius in the maximum temperature today.

The Safdarjung Observatory - Delhi's base weather station - had logged a maximum temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

It is anticipated to go past the 42-degree mark today and increase to 44 degrees Celsius by Thursday, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The maximum temperature may even shoot up to 46 degrees Celsius in parts of the national capital, a Met department official said.

Delhi had logged a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius on April 21, 2017. The all-time high maximum temperature for the month was 45.6 degrees Celsius on April 29, 1941.

Northwest India has been recording higher than usual temperatures since March last week, with experts attributing it to lack of active Western Disturbances over north India and any major system over south India.

The region had some relief last week because of a cloudy weather due to the influence of a Western Disturbance over Afghanistan. A yellow alert warning of a heatwave condition in Delhi starting April 28 has been put out.

The weather agency uses four colour codes for weather warnings - green (no action needed), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared) and red (take action).

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the heatwave condition could lead to "moderate" health concerns for vulnerable people - infants, elderly, people with chronic diseases - in affected areas.

"Hence people of these regions should avoid heat exposure, wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes and cover the head by use of cloth, hat or umbrella etc," it said.

The national capital has logged eight heatwave days in April 2021, the maximum since 11 such days witnessed in the month in 2010.

Delhi may see a partly cloudy sky, light rain, and a dust storm with wind speed reaching up to 50 kmph on Friday, which may provide a brief relief.

For the plains, a heatwave is announced when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius and at least 4.5 notches above normal.

A severe heatwave is declared if the departure from normal temperature is more than 6.4 notches, according to the IMD.

The weather agency had earlier said that northwest India and adjoining pockets of central India are likely to witness more intense and frequent heatwave spells in April.

India recorded its warmest March in 122 years with a severe heatwave scorching large areas of the country during the month.

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