Severe heatwave warning in Delhi & neighbouring areas, IMD issues ‘orange alert’

An ‘orange alert’ was issued for a severe heatwave in Delhi and neighbouring areas of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday. The weather department had already issued a yellow alert in the national capital for the day.

“Orange alert in Delhi. Severe heatwave from June 4 in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, UP and parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan. Temperature varying between 44°-47°C shall continue for four more days. We advise people to venture out carefully as the heat spell is very severe,” said RK Jenamani, senior scientist at IMD.

He further said monsoon was yet to begin anywhere in the northern part of the country. “We are monitoring. Monsoons in Delhi are still far,” the IMD scientist said.

Delhi has been reeling under a spell of heatwave for the past two days. On Sunday, the capital city recorded a maximum temperature in excess of 44.8 degrees. The hottest location was Mungeshpur, recorded at 47.3°C, while Sports Complex in Akshardham sizzled at 46.6°C, Najafgarh at 46.3°C, Pitampura 46.2°C, Ridge 45.7°C and Jafarpur (45.1°C).

The IMD said that no relief is likely till at least June 10, following which Delhi may witness isolated rain activity under the influence of a fresh western disturbance.

At the same time, the Met department forecasted an increase in rainfall activity over the northeast and southern peninsula from Tuesday onwards. “In the northeastern parts, heavy rainfall is expected. Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh have been issued warnings,” Jenamani said.

“Intense spell of rainfall likely to continue over Northeast India and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during next five days,” the IMD said in an earlier tweet.

A heatwave is declared over the plains if the maximum temperature is 40°C or higher and 4.5 degrees above normal, with this criterion being satisfied over two consecutive days.