Heatwave To Reach Peak In North & Central India Today, Says IMD; Respite May Come At The End Of The Week

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the heatwave conditions will peak today.

Prayagraj: A Homeguard cadet splashes water on his head to beat the heat during a hot summer day, amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown, in Prayagraj, Monday, May 25, 2020. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that heatwave conditions will peak on Tuesday due to prevailing dry winds blowing over northwest India, central India and adjoining interior parts of eastern India. The IMD has advised that people should avoid stepping out between 11 AM and 3 PM. Temperatures are likely to stay high over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, east Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha till May 28. Hot weather is also going to be seen in Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, for the next two to three days. Churu city in Rajasthan recorded the highest temperature of the season with 47.5 degree Celsius on Monday According to an IANS report, IMD's Regional Weather Forecasting Centre official said that there will be some respite after 28^th May when the Western Disturbance will affect northwest India and easterly winds will also prevail at lower levels of the atmosphere. The official also said that on May 29^th and 30^th there might be a dust storm blowing over NCR-Delhi. On May 24, the IMD had issued a 'red alert' for parts of Delhi for the next two days as a warning for the upcoming heatwave. In eastern parts of the country heavy rainfall will continue especially in parts of Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh, due to the strong winds from the Bay of Bengal till 28^th May. According to Skymet Weather, Pasighat in Arunanchal Pradesh has recorded 146 mm of rainfall, heavy rainfall also brought with itself flooding in parts of Assam and Meghalaya. Intense weather has also affected parts of Karnataka and Kerala.  In Bengaluru trees were uprooted and waterlogging in places due to the heavy rain. According to the report, Pasighat, Cherrapunji, Gangtok, Itanagar, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Tezpur, Tangla, Haflong, Malda, Kodaikanal, and Periakulum recorded rainfall of one cm or more on Monday.