North India Sizzles Under Severe Heatwave: Banda Hits 48 Degrees, IMD Issues Rain Alert For Delhi-UP

New Delhi: The entire North India, including Delhi-NCR is sweltering in the grip of a heatwave these days, with Banda in Uttar Pradesh recording the country's highest temperature at a blistering 48.2 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued warning alerts for extreme heatwave conditions likely across various parts of the country over the coming days.

What did the IMD say? 

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Delhi for May 22 and said that the minimum temperature is expected to be 32 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature is expected to be 44 degrees Celsius. 

Amidst the intense heat, the IMD has issued a thunderstorm and rain alert for 16 states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, on May 22. Strong winds can blow at speeds of up to 80 to 90 km per hour during this period.

What about rain warning?

The IMD has also issued a rain warning for 16 states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra, on May 22. Some relief from the heat is expected during this period. Winds up to 90 km per hour are expected during this period. Very heavy rain is possible at isolated places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya on May 21, 22, 26, and 27.

How will the weather be in Delhi?

The IMD has issued a Orange Alert for Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi for May 22. The city remained among the worst-hit regions, with temperatures touching between 45 and 47 degrees Celsius over the past 24 hours.

According to the IMD, hot winds will blow at 20-30 km/h during the day on May 22, gusting up to 45 km/h. However, the sky will remain clear during this time and heat wave will continue on May 23. 

How will the weather be in UP?

The department has issued a warning of intense heat and heatwave conditions in most parts of the state for the next three days, including May 22. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to exercise extreme vigilance regarding relief and rescue operations, given the steadily increasing heat. Banda is experiencing the worst heatwaves. On May 21, Banda recorded a high temperature of 48.2 degrees Celsius, the highest in the country.

What about weather in Rajasthan?

Rajasthan continued to battle intense heat, with Sriganganagar recording 46.5 degrees Celsius. Several other cities including Pilani, Phalodi, Bikaner, Churu and Kota also recorded temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius.