Weatherman warns of heat wave sweeping over the region during next few days

With day temperatures already being a few notches above normal over many parts of north-west India, the Weather Department has warned of a heat wave sweeping across the region over the next 5-6 days.

Heat wave conditions are very likely to prevail over Punjab during April 6-9, over parts of south Haryana and Delhi till April 9 and over Himachal Pradesh during April 5-7, according to a bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on April 4.

A heat wave occurs when the departure of maximum temperature is 4.5-6.4°C above normal. Departure of 6.5°C and above the weather condition is categorised as a severe heat wave. A gradual rise in maximum temperature by 4-5°C is expected in the state over the next six days.

The highest maximum temperature was recorded in Punjab during the last 24 hours at 36.6°C in Bhatinda, with day temperatures rising above normal by 1.6 to 3°C in all districts of the state.

On the other hand, night temperatures were below normal by 1.5-3°C in many parts of Punjab. At 12.5°C, Pathankot recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state.

While Punjab has remained dry over the last 24 hours, the Weather Department said that light to moderate rainfall was experienced at isolated places in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The cumulative rainfall in Punjab during March and in April till date is deficient by 68 per cent.

A western disturbance in middle and upper tropospheric westerlies is prevailing over south-western Rajasthan. A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the western Himalayan region from April 8, with the possibility of isolated rainfall over parts of Punjab on April 9-10, according to IMD.