IMD issues ‘red alert’ as Delhi boils at over 45°C

The scorching summer in Delhi-NCR has turned unbearable, with temperatures breaching the 45°Celsius mark, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a "red" alert, the highest level. This relentless heatwave has persisted for eight days, pushing temperatures well above 40 degrees. While some relief is expected later this week, residents are currently grappling with the blistering heat, sharing their struggles and frustrations on social media.

A user tweeted a tale of boiling water, "I tried to take a bath with overhead tank water at 6.30 am. The water was boiling even at 6.30 am. Even the ACs are not working properly, the refrigerator is not cooling. This is the first time I have seen such scorching heat in Delhi NCR in my 20 years of my existence."

The Mirror, an English news outlet, shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the U.K. is set to experience a 48-hour heatwave with temperatures reaching 26°C, making five cities in England the hottest. The post gained widespread attention, especially from Indian users, sparking a flurry of comments and discussions.

One humorously tweeted, "My AC is currently set at UK heatwave level."

"That is just two degrees above the default air conditioning setting in India. A pleasant weather it seems," IFS officer Parveen Kaswan shared.

However, certain users pointed out the variation in climates between the two regions. "Our homes in the UK are insulated, and there are no ceiling fans or AC. If it goes beyond 25 degrees, it’s almost impossible to sleep at night," one user highlighted.

The IMD predicts ongoing severe heatwave conditions across many parts of North India for today and tomorrow, but relief is expected soon with a lessening intensity due to an approaching western disturbance towards Northwest India. Conversely, areas like Assam, Meghalaya, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal are poised for continued heavy rainfall over the next couple of days.

The highest maximum temperature, reaching 47.6°C, was recorded at Prayagraj in East Uttar Pradesh, according to the IMD. It also noted warm night to severe warm night conditions in some areas of Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, with isolated instances in Uttar Pradesh, as well as warm night conditions observed in isolated parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, and West Madhya Pradesh.

“Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm, lightning & gusty winds (30-40 kmph) very likely over Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha during next 2 days and likely to increase thereafter. Isolated heavy rainfall very likely over Odisha on 20th & 21st June, 2024,” the IMD states.

Uttar Pradesh (UP) is bracing for an intense heatwave from June 18 to June 19, while Bihar and select areas of Himachal Pradesh will also experience hot weather today, with a subsequent decrease in intensity. Similar weather patterns are anticipated in north Coastal Andhra Pradesh, parts of Jammu & Kashmir, and north Madhya Pradesh on June 18.

“Heatwave to severe heat wave conditions observed in most parts of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab & Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi; in many parts of south Bihar, south Uttarakhand. Heatwave conditions in some parts of Jammu-Kashmir, north Madhya Pradesh; in isolated pockets of Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, north Rajasthan & Vidarbha,” the weather report adds.

The IMD's release highlights a cyclonic circulation over northeast Assam in the lower tropospheric levels, likely leading to isolated heavy rainfall over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya from June 18 to June 19. Arunachal Pradesh will see this on June 19, with exceptionally heavy rainfall expected in Meghalaya today.

Additionally, the Southwest Monsoon is progressing into parts of Odisha, Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Northwest Bay of Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, and remaining parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal over the next three days, as per the IMD's weather report.

A Western Disturbance is noted in the mid-tropospheric westerlies, suggesting isolated to light rain, thunderstorms, and lightning over Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Ladakh, Gilgit, Jammu & Kashmir, and Rajasthan from June 18 to June 20. The Weather Department has also cautioned about strong surface winds over Northwest India for the next four days.