Thursday, April 23, was another punishing day for much of India.
Jharsuguda in Odisha recorded the country’s highest temperature of 44.6C, as heat wave conditions officially took hold across Gangetic West Bengal and Bihar.
Meanwhile, minimum night temperatures across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh stayed well above normal, meaning there was no real respite even after dark.
In the northeast and parts of central India, it was a completely different story.
Thunderstorms, some with wind speeds touching 50 to 95 kmph, battered isolated locations in Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Hailstorms were reported in Assam and parts of Madhya Maharashtra. In Rajasthan, warm nights were officially logged as temperatures failed to dip adequately.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued its midday bulletin flagging that this split weather pattern, blazing heat in the plains and stormy activity on the edges, is set to continue.
HOW WILL THE WEATHER BE ON APRIL 24?
Friday is unlikely to bring comfort to most of India.
In the northern plains, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, there is no significant rainfall on the cards.
Heatwave conditions are very likely to persist in isolated pockets across Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Furthermore, nights will remain uncomfortably warm, especially in Delhi, Haryana, and west UP, all under a warm night warning.
Meanwhile, in the Northeast and hill states the weather will be entirely contrasting. Arunachal Pradesh is expected to face isolated heavy rainfall. Additionally, thunderstorms with gusty winds of 40–50 kmph are very likely over Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, and Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim.
Parts of Assam and Meghalaya will also see continued storm activity.
Coming to the western regions, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada are in for another rough day with hailstorms and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning very likely. Goa and Odisha can also expect gusty winds and thunder.
Heat will persist in the south, but some regions might find respite.
Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu will continue to face humid, oppressive conditions with isolated lightning and thunder. Kerala too remains under a thunderstorm watch.
HEAT TO GET WORSE
The expectations for this week to end on a cooler note should be checked.
Temperatures across northwest and central India are likely to climb a further 2–3C before any relief.
According to the IMD’s forecast, a meaningful dip of about 2–4C, is only expected to arrive by April 26–27 for east India, and April 27–29 for the northwest.
The one silver lining is that Rajasthan, which has been simmering all week, will finally see some scattered rain activity creeping in by April 25–26.
People in heat-affected states should ensure that they stay hydrated and avoid stepping out during peak afternoon hours and check on elderly relatives and young children, who are at the highest risk.
For those in thunderstorm-prone areas, stay indoors when a storm approaches, do not shelter under trees, unplug electrical appliances, and avoid contact with metal surfaces or water bodies during lightning.
