New Delhi, India: India recorded its highest-ever temperature today, reaching 52.3 degrees Celsius. The temperature was reported by a monitoring station in Delhi’s Mungeshpur at 2:30 pm.
Kuldeep Srivastava, the regional head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), explained that the rising temperatures are due to hot winds from Rajasthan hitting the city’s outskirts first.
“Parts of Delhi are particularly susceptible to the early arrival of these hot winds, worsening the already severe weather. Areas like Mungeshpur, Narela, and Najafgarh are the first to experience the full force of these hot winds,” he told news agency PTI.
The temperature exceeded expectations by more than nine degrees, marking the second consecutive day of record-breaking heat and surpassing the 2002 record of 49.2 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, Delhi experienced brief rainfall on Wednesday evening, which is likely to increase the humidity level.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert health notice for Delhi, which has a population of over 30 million. The alert warns of a “very high likelihood of developing heat illness and heat stroke in all ages,” emphasizing the need for “extreme care needed for vulnerable people.”
India has faced scorching summer temperatures before, but scientific research indicates that climate change is making heatwaves longer, more frequent, and more intense.
Amid the heatwave, the national capital reported its highest-ever power demand of 8,302 megawatts (MW) as more residents relied on power-intensive air conditioning, according to electricity department officials.
Other areas experiencing extreme heat include Phalodi and Bikaner in Rajasthan, with temperatures reaching 51 degrees Celsius and 50.8 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Sirsa in Haryana recorded a temperature of 50.3 degrees Celsius.
However, there has been a slight decrease in temperature of up to 4 degrees Celsius in some districts of south Rajasthan, including Barmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Sirohi, and Jalore, due to moist winds from the Arabian Sea. This indicates the beginning of a reduction in the heatwave over northwest India.
Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) data suggests that this decreasing trend will continue northwards, gradually bringing relief from the heatwave conditions starting from May 30.
Additionally, the incursion of moist winds from the Bay of Bengal from Thursday is expected to lead to a gradual decrease in the maximum temperature over Uttar Pradesh.
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