India will wake up on Monday to a sharply divided sky.
While the north and central plains continue to bake under a punishing heatwave, the northeast is set to be lashed by squally winds, lightning and intense rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest bulletin.
The mercury is unlikely to relent immediately, though a Western Disturbance is lining up to ease temperatures later in the week.
WILL THE HEATWAVE FINALLY EASE IN NORTH INDIA?
Not just yet. The IMD has flagged heatwave conditions over isolated pockets of Jammu-Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Bihar and Gujarat on Monday, April 27.
Himachal Pradesh, which scorched at severe heatwave levels today, will continue to feel the burn, while east Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are also tipped to roast.
A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature crosses 40 degrees Celsius in the plains and stays at least 4.5 degrees above normal.
Banda in Uttar Pradesh recorded a blistering 47.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the country’s hottest spot.
Warm nights are forecast in pockets of Haryana, Chandigarh and west Madhya Pradesh.
WHY IS THE NORTHEAST SET TO BE BATTERED BY RAIN?
A trough running in the lower atmosphere, paired with cyclonic circulations over east Uttar Pradesh and northeast Jharkhand, will channel moisture into the eastern flank.
Fairly widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds touching 50 kmph are forecast over the northeast.
Isolated very heavy rainfall is likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, with heavy spells across Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim will also see heavy showers.
Thundersqualls of up to 70 kmph may rattle Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha, while hailstones could pelt parts of Gangetic West Bengal and Jharkhand.
WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE IN DELHI TOMORROW?
The capital will swelter again, with maximum temperatures hovering between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius and isolated heatwave spells.
Skies will turn partly cloudy through the day, raising the possibility of thundery development and a spell of very light rain by afternoon or evening.
Sustained northwesterly winds of 30 to 40 kmph, gusting to 50 kmph, are likely.
The minimum will linger between 26 and 28 degrees Celsius, sitting appreciably above normal.
Residents are urged to stay hydrated and indoors during peak hours.
WHY HAVE SCHOOLS BEEN SHUT IN DEHRADUN?
The heatwave has already forced authorities to act. Citing the IMD’s alert and a forecast of an extremely hot day on Monday, the Dehradun District Magistrate has declared a holiday for all schools running classes one to 12, along with all Anganwadi centres in the district, on 27 April.
The order, issued by the District Disaster Management Authority, flags a sharp rise in heatstroke and dehydration risks for children and the wider public.
The Chief Medical Officer has been directed to keep hospitals stocked with cool drinking water, oral rehydration salts and emergency medicines, with special arrangements for pregnant women, infants and the elderly.
The Chief Education Officer and District Programme Officer have been told to ensure every government, private and aided institution complies with the closure.
