Spring is making a hasty exit across North India as temperatures begin a steady climb towards summer-like levels. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by two to four degrees Celsius over the region during the next week.
This shift means the pleasant spring air is being replaced by an unseasonal heat that is already being felt across the plains. Currently, maximum temperatures are above normal by three to five degrees Celsius in pockets of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
WHY IS AN EARLY SUMMER APPROACHING?
The heat is intensifying due to a lack of strong weather systems and clear skies that allow solar radiation to warm the ground quickly.
Weather expert Navdeep Dahiya suggests an abnormally warm end to February is awaiting North India.
While the IMD notes a subtropical westerly jet stream is prevailing over the north, surface conditions remain dry.
Maximum temperatures in Punjab and Haryana are expected to cross 30 degrees Celsius this week, eventually hitting 33 degrees Celsius in some parts.
The IMD confirms that Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are already seeing maximum temperatures in the range of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, which are set to climb further.
HOW HOT WILL DELHI GET?
For those of us here in the capital, the change is striking. Over the past 24 hours, Delhi has already seen a rise in both minimum and maximum temperatures.
The IMD reports that maximum temperatures in the city are currently around 26 to 28 degrees Celsius, which is already appreciably above normal for this time of year.
By February 24, the mercury in Delhi is likely to hit 31 degrees Celsius, staying consistently in the range of 29 to 31 degrees Celsius.
Devendra Tripathi, founder of Mausam Tak and weather vlogger for Kisan Tak, has warned that while cold winds may persist in the morning in Delhi, the temperatures will go up day and night as the Sun remains sharp.
This sudden spike places historical records under threat, specifically the all-time February high of 34.1 degrees Celsius recorded in 2006. With the Sun feeling 15 per cent more intense, the window for spring is rapidly shrinking.
