New Delhi: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday, April 27, predicted heatwave conditions in several regions of India for at least the next five days.
The IMD has issued a 'yellow alert' for Delhi. A yellow alert signifies that the weather could change for the worse, and hence, people should be vigilant.
What Does ‘Yellow Alert’ Signify?
Different colour codes signify the intensity of weather conditions in a specific area. According to the Standard Operating Procedure - Weather Forecasting and Warning Services for 2021 provided by the IMD, "colour codes are used in weather warnings for bringing out the severity of the weather phenomenon expected".
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These warnings are mainly meant for administrators to keep ready and position their resources to handle situations arising out of weather-related disastrous events.
The 'Yellow Alert' means 'Watch', and calls for administrators to 'Be Updated'.
Heatwave Conditions Over Northwest India During Next 5 Days
In a press release dated April 27, the IMD warned of heatwave conditions over East, Central, and Northwest India during the next five days.
On Wednesday, the national capital recorded a temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius at Siri Fort Complex, the highest this season.
According to the press release, very light isolated rainfall with dust storms or thunderstorms is likely over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh on April 29, and over Rajasthan on April 29 and 30.
Quoting IMD scientist RK Jenamani, a report by news agency ANI said the temperature will drop from May 1 or 2, and the eastern regions of the country will not experience heatwave conditions from April 30.
According to the IMD, heatwave conditions are very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Vidarbha, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh during the next five days; Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, interior Gangetic West Bengal, and interior Odisha from April 27 to 30; Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi from April 28 to May 1; Bihar from April 27 to 29; Chhattisgarh from April 28 to 30; and northern parts of Gujarat on April 27 and 28.
The IMD added that a rise in maximum temperature by about two degrees Celsius is very likely over most parts of Northwest India during the next three days. Thereafter, the maximum temperature will decrease by about two degrees Celsius.
On April 26, maximum temperatures of 40 to 42 degrees Celsius were observed in several parts of East Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and southern parts of Madhya Pradesh, among others.
This year, Northwest India recorded the hottest March in 122 years, so much so, that the average maximum temperature surpassed the previous record of 30.67 degrees Celsius in 2004.