New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday said that the intense heatwave persisting across large swathes of east India has now extended into southern regions. Maximum temperatures soared two to seven degrees Celsius above normal levels in areas spanning Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
In Andhra Pradesh, Anantapur recorded a scorching 43.5 degrees Celsius, while Kurnool reached 43.2 degrees Celsius. Similarly, temperatures peaked at 42.3 degrees Celsius in Salem and 42 degrees Celsius in Erode, Tamil Nadu, reported PTI.
The ongoing spell of heat wave is the second this month. Heatwave conditions have been prevailing in Odisha since April 15 and the Gangetic West Bengal since April 17, according to the MeT department.
In a statement, the IMD said heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are expected in east India and south peninsular India during the next five days. IMD forecasts a further rise in maximum temperatures by 2-4 degrees Celsius in northwest and east India, with Maharashtra expecting a 3-4 degree Celsius increase over the next 4-5 days.
Severe heatwave conditions are anticipated in various parts of West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Sikkim, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand during this period. Additionally, high humidity levels may increase discomfort for residents in coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Bihar.
IMD has issued a warning for warm night conditions in Odisha from April 25 to April 27. High nighttime temperatures can pose health risks as the body may struggle to cool down adequately. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in urban areas due to the urban heat island effect, where metropolitan regions experience significantly higher temperatures than surrounding areas.
The threshold for a heatwave is reached when maximum temperatures reach at least 40 degrees Celsius in plains, 37 degrees in coastal regions, and 30 degrees in hilly areas, with a departure from normal of at least 4.5 notches.
Severe Heat Wave Declared When Temp Exceed 6.4 Notches
A severe heat wave is declared if the departure from normal temperature exceeds 6.4 notches. Despite weakening El Niño conditions, the IMD had previously cautioned about the likelihood of extreme heat during the April-June period, coinciding with the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. With approximately a billion people expected to cast their votes during this time, heightened concerns about vulnerability to heatwaves have emerged.
Following the first phase of elections on April 19, the second phase of polling is slated for April 26. The Meteorological Office forecast an increase in heatwave days across the country in April, with four to eight heatwave days expected compared to the normal range of one to three days.
Moreover, for the entire April-June period, ten to twenty heatwave days are anticipated, up from the usual four to eight days. Regions expected to experience a higher number of heatwave days include Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
Some areas may witness more than 20 heatwave days, raising concerns about strained power grids and potential water shortages in various parts of India. Global weather agencies, including the IMD, anticipate the development of La Niña conditions later in the year.
While El Niño conditions, characterised by periodic warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean, are linked to weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India, La Niña conditions, which represent the opposite of El Niño, typically bring abundant rainfall during the monsoon season.
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In a mid-April update, the IMD said India would experience above-normal cumulative rainfall in the 2024 monsoon season with La Nina conditions, expected to set in by August-September, being the dominant factor, as per PTI.
The monsoon is critical for India's agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area dependent on it. It is also crucial for replenishing reservoirs critical for drinking water apart from power generation across the country.