Mercury continues runaway march, city logs 2nd hottest Apr day in 10 yrs

Bhopal: The searing heatwave continued to drive the mercury to alarming and unprecedented levels in the state, as the maximum temperature on Tuesday almost hit 45 degrees. Not to be left behind, the state capital, too, recorded its second-highest temperature in 10 years for the month of April, at 43.6°C.Previously, in 2019, Bhopal recorded 43.7°C, which was the highest day temperature recorded in 10 years.As the mercury continued its runaway march, the Met department issued fresh heatwave warnings for several places across the state.However, the Met did hold up the promise of a marginal decrease in the day temperature by 2 degrees, starting Thursday.Meanwhile, the day temperature in Bhopal on Tuesday was recorded at three degrees above normal, while the overnight temperature was logged at an oppressive 26.8°C, two degrees above the normal mark. At 44.8°C, Khajuraho recorded the highest temperature on Tuesday.While the mercury remained untamed, the Met did record some rainfall activity, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning in Shivpuri, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Damoh, Sagar, Panna, Katni, Jabalpur, Mandla, Balaghat, Seoni and Satna districts. While a hailstorm lashed Panna, Chhindwara and Chhatarpur continued to bear the brunt of the heatwave.Ujjain, Rewa, Satna, Chhatarpur districts experienced warm nights, while Umaria recorded a severe warm night.The Met, meanwhile, forecast clear skies for the state capital on Wednesday, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be at 43 and 27 degrees respectively. However, the average wind speed will be at 20 kmph, bringing some respite from the heat.A heatwave warning was issued for Vidisha, Raisen, Ratlam, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Sheopur, Satna, Damoh and Sagar districts, while a thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds, interspersed with the heatwave, was forecast for Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Chhindwara, Mandla, Panna, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh and Niwari.