New Delhi: The meteorological department on Wednesday said that Delhi sweltered under a severe heatwave with the maximum temperature crossing the 41-degree mark at three places.


Serious heatwave conditions are probably going to persevere on Thursday also.


IMD authorities said a delayed drought has prompted "severe" sweltering atmospheric conditions in northwest India. "The heatwave spell over northwest, central and west India is likely to continue for the next four to five days."






According to the Meteorological Department, if the normal temperature exceeds 6.4, a severe heatwave occurs. On April 1-2, there will be a slight drop in temperature, IMD meteorologist RK Jenamani told news agency ANI.


ALSO READ: Delhi Records Season's Hottest Day, IMD Predicts Severe Heat Wave Conditions For Next 3 Days


There will be heatwave in Central India and Maharashtra for next 5 days. This is the second time since 1950 that it has been so hot in the capital. Mahesh Palawat from Skymet Weather said that the absence of meteorological system, presence of an anti-cyclone in Rajasthan and adjoining Pakistan was further intensifying the hot winds in North and Central India.


"The absence of a weather system and the presence of an anti-cyclone over Rajasthan and adjoining Pakistan have been pushing hot winds across North and Central India. March is going to end on a hotter note with no respite till the beginning of April," said Mahesh Palawat, vice president, Meteorology and Climate Change, Skymet Weather.


Eight weather conditions stations in Delhi recorded their most extreme temperature over 40 degrees Celsius. The mercury settled at 41.7 degrees Celsius, 41.4 degrees Celsius and 41.5 degrees Celsius at Narela, Pitampura and Sports Complex stations separately.


The Safdarjung observatory, considered the official marker for the city, recorded a high of 39.6 degrees Celsius - - eight steps better than average.


Light breezes and dry weather conditions will once again increase temperatures over northwest India prompting heatwave conditions, he said.


"While we expect a heatwave to hit parts of central and northwest India by the end of March, it was not expected so early in the season.


"But I would also not be surprised as we have been witnessing a gradual rise in day temperatures for the last few years. Record-breaking maximum temperatures are now here to stay with the rise in global mean temperatures," he said.


Heatwave predicted in parts of Bengal over next two days


Heatwave conditions are likely to prevail in some districts of south Bengal over the course of the following two days, the Met division said.


Bankura recorded the most extreme day temperature on Wednesday at 40 degree Celsius.


The meteorologist said that a couple of spots in the districts of Jhargram, Purulia, Paschim Medinipur and Bankura will encounter heatwave.


Kolkata, during the day, recorded the most extreme temperature at 33.9 degree Celsius and at least 26.8 degree Celsius, it said.


The Met division likewise cautioned of heavy downpour on Sunday at a couple of spots in the Alipurduar and Coochbehar regions of sub-Himalayan West Bengal.


(With PTI inputs)