Heatwave likely to abate only after May 28; Dust and thunder storms expected on May 29-30: IMD

Dust and thunder storms are likely in several parts of rth India on May 29-30, bringing much-needed relief from intense heatwave, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). IMD h on Sunday issued a red colour-coded alert for rth India for May 25-26 when prevailing heatwave conditions are expected to peak.

Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and parts of Uttar Presh have been experiencing blistering heat for days with temperatures soaring over 45 degrees Celsius in some places.

highest day temperature in Rajasthan on Monday was recorded in Churu at 47.5 degrees Celsius, while Allahab was hottest place in Uttar Presh at 46.3 degrees Celsius. maximum temperature was 44 degrees Celsius in national capital.

Kuldeep Srivastava, he of Regional Meteorological Department of IMD, said on Monday that due to a western disturbance and easterly winds, dust storm and thunderstorm activity is likely over Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Presh on May 29-30.

wind speed is also likely to be around 50-60 kilometres per hour during this period, Srivastava said, ding that this will bring relief from intense heat. A western disturbance is a cyclonic storm that originates in Mediterranean Sea and travels across Central Asia. When it comes in contact with Himalayas, it brings rains to hills and plains.

Heat wave conditions over some parts and severe heat wave conditions at isolated pockets are very likely over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Presh, East Mhya Presh and Vidarbha during May 25-27, IMD said in its daily bulletin.

Heat wave conditions are also likely in isolated pockets over Punjab, Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gujarat, Mhya Maharashtra, Marathawa, interior Andhra Presh, Telangana, Bihar and Jharkhand during next 2-3 days.

“Due to prevailing dry rth-westerly winds over plains of rthwest India, central India and joining interior parts of eastern India, present heatwave conditions very likely to continue to prevail over se areas till May 28 with peak intensity on May 25 and 26,” IMD said in its daily bulletin.

For plains, a heatwave is declared when actual maximum temperature is 45 degrees Celsius and severe heatwave when it is 47 degrees Celsius or above.

IMD issues colour-coded warnings depending on intensity of any wear system in ascending order - green, yellow, orange and red. red warning has been issued to caution people t to step out from 1 PM to 5 PM, when intensity of heat is most, according to an IMD official.