While heavy rain and winds have led to a marginal drop in reduced temperatures, “In Rajasthan, hot westerly winds have not abated, and thus temperatures are have soared”, he added. An intense heat wave continues to grip several parts of north India with most of the cities crossing the 40…
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The severe heatwave conditions intensified in dry Rajasthan on Thursday with a majority of stations witnessing maximum temperatures above 46 degrees Celsius.
On Thursday, the city set a blistering record as temperatures reached 51 degrees Celsius, the highest registered in the entire country since 1956.
The data, recorded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), shows that the high temperature eclipsed the previous national high temperature of 50.6 degrees Celsius, which was set way back in 1886.
The Guardian reports that the temperature was recorded in Phalodi, which is located in the state of Rajasthan. On Wednesday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) declared a heat wave-related “red alert” in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
Temperatures in northern India regularly hit the high 40s in May and June – the hottest months of the year – but topping 50 degrees is unusual. That means the areas can expect temperatures as high as 47C (116.6 Fahrenheit) or more.
But the monsoon is only forecast to hit the southern state of Kerala on Jun 7 – six days later than usual – before sweeping across the country.
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The prolonged heat wave this year has already killed hundreds and destroyed crops in more than 13 states, impacting hundreds of millions of Indians.
