India Gets Relief From Heatwave, IMD Issues 'Orange Alert' For Rainfall In 6 States. Check Details

An orange alert has also been issued for hailstorms, storms, and rain In Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Chandigarh, said the MeT department

In a respite from the harsh summers, the India Meteorological Department on Wednesday said that the heatwave has ended in the country and the temperature will decrease from today and it will be cloudy. An orange alert has also been issued for hailstorms, storms, and rain in six states of north India. The weatherman has also forecast “heavy rains” in the hilly areas for the next two to three days. 

“Heatwave has ended in the entire India today. From today, the temperature will decrease and it will be cloudy. We have issued an Orange Alert for hailstorms, storms and rain in Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Chandigarh. There is a possibility of heavy rains in the hilly areas for the next 2-3 days. There are chances of storms in East India as well,” RK Jenamani, a scientist at the IMD told news agency ANI. 

The weather department also predicted thunderstorm coupled with rainfall in the next 24 hours in some districts of Odisha. 

"Thunderstorm activity with rainfall might continue for the next 24 hours in some districts. Thunderstorm activity might slightly increase on 27 May due to a slight reduction in temperature," said HR Biswas, Director, IMD Bhubaneswar. 

The national capital and adjoining areas reeled under scorching heat for the past several days with the mercury even breaching the 46-degree mark in parts of the city on Monday.

A minimum temperature of 29.8 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, was recorded on Tuesday morning.

A blistering heatwave has swept parts of Delhi, straining power grids and posing challenges to outdoor labourers, homeless people and animals.

The IMD earlier said the heatwave conditions were going to persist till the rains bring some relief from today onwards. 

Delhi's primary weather station, Safdarjung Observatory, recorded a maximum temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius -- four notches above normal and the maximum so far this year, on Monday.

The mercury soared to 46.2 degrees Celsius at Najafgarh, making it the hottest place in the capital.

Narela (45.3 degrees Celsius), Pitampura (45.8 degrees Celsius) and Pusa (45.8 degrees Celsius) also recorded heatwave conditions.

The threshold for a heatwave is met when the maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, at least 37 degrees Celsius in coastal areas, and at least 30 degrees Celsius in hilly regions, and the departure from normal is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius.