1. IMD warns of ‘heatwave to severe heatwave’ conditions in eastern and southern India.
2. Odisha and West Bengal have faced heatwave conditions since mid-April.
3. Alerts extend to several states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar.
Weather Update, April 24: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued warnings of ‘heatwave to severe heatwave’ conditions in various parts of eastern and southern India over the next five days.
Affected Regions
East India: Odisha and West Bengal have been experiencing heatwave conditions since mid-April.
Southern India: The forecast predicts heatwave conditions in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and parts of Maharashtra.
High Humidity Areas: Coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Bihar are expected to experience elevated humidity levels, exacerbating discomfort.
A heatwave is officially recognized when the maximum temperature at a weather station reaches 40 degrees Celsius or higher in the plains, 37 degrees in coastal areas, and 30 degrees in hilly regions, with a departure from the normal temperature of at least 4.5 notches. If the departure from normal temperature exceeds 6.4 notches, it is classified as a severe heatwave.
With El Niño conditions prevailing but weakening, the IMD had previously cautioned about extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, raising concerns about susceptibility to heatwaves.
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Regional Updates
Maharashtra
IMD issued a heatwave alert for Thane, Raigad, and parts of Mumbai from April 27 to 29, anticipating a temperature surge due to an anti-cyclonic circulation.
Tripura
The Tripura Disaster Management Authority issued a public advisory to minimize the impact of ongoing hot and humid weather conditions expected to persist for several days.
Odisha
Odisha reported one death and 124 hospitalizations due to heat-related ailments across 16 districts, with temperatures exceeding 45.2°C in some areas. The Meteorological Department predicted a maximum daytime temperature of 45°C in the next 24 hours.
Uttar Pradesh
Parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi and Purvanchal, experienced oppressive heat, with temperatures soaring close to 43°C.
Delhi
Delhi witnessed sudden rainfall, causing disruptions including diverted flights and injuries due to a house wall collapse. Dr. Naresh Kumar from IMD warned of temperatures reaching up to 44 degrees Celsius in Eastern India over the next few days.
