North India swelters as mercury nears 45°C

Bathinda: Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions gripped parts of Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, while Punjab and Haryana reeled under rising temperatures and warm nights. Maximum temperatures on Sunday hovered between 40°C and 45°C.Day temperatures were sharply above normal by up to 5.1°C at many places in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, while night temperatures ranged between 20°C and 26°C and remained 3.1°C to 5°C above normal.According to the India Meteorological Department, maximum temperatures are likely to see no significant change across northwest India till April 28, followed by a gradual fall of 3°C to 5°C on April 29-30 and a rise of 2°C to 3°C on May 1 and 2.Heatwave conditions are likely in isolated parts of Punjab and Haryana on April 27, while warm night conditions may persist in isolated pockets of Haryana.The highest maximum temperature was recorded at 43.7°C at Bathinda in Punjab and 44.2°C at Narnaul in Haryana.As compared to Saturday, Punjab recorded a fall of 0.4°C in average maximum temperature up to 5.30 pm on Sunday. These were appreciably above normal by 3.3°C in the state.As compared to Saturday, Haryana recorded a fall of 0.4°C in average maximum temperature up to 5.30 pm on Sunday. The maximum temperatures were appreciably above normal by 3.6°C in the state.Heatwave conditions are considered when the maximum temperatures rise above 40°C in plains and 30°C in hilly regions, and there is departure from normal of 4.5 to 6.4°C.The rise in temperatures is causing hardship for farmers arriving at grain markets in Punjab and Haryana to sell wheat, as well as labourers working in the open.Meanwhile, under the influence of a western disturbance, isolated to scattered light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, is likely over Punjab and Haryana between April 27 and May 2.MSID:: 130533546 413 |