Heatwave alert: IMD issues ‘orange’ alert in Northwest India

An orange alert has been issued over fresh heatwave conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh (UP) from June 9 to June 12, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD forecast indicates heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in UP, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand.

In the coming days, part of East India and UP will see a significant rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3 degrees, while Central India will experience no major change in temperatures over the next four days.

The IMD indicated that heat wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal from June 9 to 13; in Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, West Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh from June 11 to 13; and in Odisha on June 11 and 12.

"Heat wave conditions very likely in isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh on 09th & 10th and heat wave to severe heat wave conditions in some parts over the region during 11th-13th June, 2024. Hot and humid weather very likely to prevail over isolated pockets of Odisha on 09th, 10th & 13th June, 2024," IMD states.

In the Northeast, thunderstorms, light to moderate rainfall, lightning, and gusty winds are expected over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal, and Sikkim until June 15.

Isolated heavy rainfall likely to occur over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Assam & Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh during 09th-13th; Nagaland on 09th, 12th & 13th June, 2024. Isolated very heavy rainfall is also expected to occur over Assam & Meghalaya during 11th-13th; Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during 09th-12th and Arunachal Pradesh on 12th & 13th June, 2024.

The southwest monsoon has advanced into the central Arabian Sea, southern Maharashtra, Telangana, southern Chhattisgarh, south Odisha, and parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh as of June 8.

Isolated extremely heavy falls are also very likely over south Konkan & Goa, south Madhya Maharashtra and Coastal Karnataka on 09th & 10th and North Interior Karnataka during 09th-11th June, 2024.

Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds (30-40 kmph) very likely over Bihar, Jharkhand during 11th-13th; Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh during next 5 days. Isolated hailstorm and squally winds (50-60 kmph) very likely over southern parts of East Madhya Pradesh on 09th & 10th June, 2024.

Maximum temperatures on 8th June were in the range of 42-45°C in many parts of East Uttar Pradesh; in some parts of north Madhya Pradesh and West Uttar Pradesh; in isolated pockets of Haryana, Delhi, Bihar and Gujarat state. These were above normal by 2-4°C over these areas, as per IMD. The highest maximum temperature of 45.2°C was reported at Prayagraj (East Uttar Pradesh) over the country.