India
Vidarbha put on heatwave alert in the next 72 hours
IMD has also issued an advisory asking citizens to take care of themselves and avoid going out in the afternoon.
The India Meteorology Department (IMD) has signalled caution for Maharashtra’s Vidarbha, as a heatwave has been predicted in isolated pockets of the region in the next 72 hours. At the same time, north and north-central Maharashtra will also register above normal temperature. “However, there are no heatwave conditions in central Maharashtra at present,” said Anupam Kashyapi, Weather Head, IMD Pune.
In plain areas like in Vidarbha, heatwave conditions arise when the actual temperature rises above 40 degrees celsius, with departure temperature is between 4.5 to 6.4 degrees celsius. Meanwhile, Kashyapi also said that a few coastal stations in Konkan and Goa also faced a heatwave recently. “At coastal stations, when the actual temperature reaches 37 degrees celsius and above and the departure temperature is between 4.5 to 6.4 degrees celsius, we call it a heatwave. But at present, the temperature has lowered in the coastal areas as well,” Kashyapi said.
IMD also added that in the month of April, the temperature in Konkan-Goa and Vidarbha region will be above normal. Also, the night temperature in north, central Maharashtra will remain above the normal minimum temperature.
IMD urges caution
The IMD has also issued an advisory asking citizens to take care of themselves and avoid going out in the afternoon. “This is the first month of summer. With temperature, humidity also increases. This is a highly uncomfortable period. We advise people not to go outside between 10-10:30 am to 4 pm unless absolutely necessary,” Kashyapi said.
He added, “Drink enough water before leaving home. Cover your head with a light cloth. Try to return to a safe shelter even if you are out in the afternoon. Avoid air-conditioned rooms or refrigerated water.”
Temperature to remain high
On March 29th, on the day of Holi, the national capital Delhi faced heatwave conditions as the temperature reached 40.1 degrees Celsius, making Monday the hottest day in March in 76 years, as per IMD.
IMD has also predicted that the temperature over most of north India will continue to remain high over the upcoming summer months. “The temperature over the north, northeast, northwest and central India will remain above normal this summer. Only the southern peninsula and areas of central India adjacent to the southern peninsula will remain below normal,” Kashyapi said.
