Barmer boils at 46.8⁰C, the highest maximum in ten years

A heat wave sweeping across entire Rajasthan led to significant rise in the mercury levels in Barmer, which recorded 46.8⁰C on Tuesday evening, the highest maximum temperature recorded in the city in the last ten years. Other major cities of Rajasthan saw the maximums settle two to four degrees above the normal average, between 42⁰C to 44⁰C.

According to latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, relief from the merciless heat is expected from the 3^rd to the 5^th of May as a result of a weather system called cyclonic circulation.

Barmer had consistently been recording a high of 45⁰C from Sunday onwards. The maximum temperature in Barmer on the 27^th April recorded 45.1⁰C and on 28^th April it touched 45.2⁰C. Temperatures kept rising through Tuesday in the absence of any weather system, touching 46.8⁰C (six notches above normal), not very far from the city’s all-time maximum of 48.3⁰C, recorded on the 28^th of April 1958.

Here’s how hot other cities in Rajasthan in the last 24 hours were : Churu 44.8⁰C (4 degrees above normal), Bikaner 44⁰C (3 degrees above normal), Kota 44.1⁰C (3 degrees above normal), Jaipur 43⁰C (4 degrees above normal), Jodhpur 43.3⁰C (3 degrees above normal) and Ajmer 42⁰C (2 degrees above normal).

While the day is baking hot, nights and early mornings are not cool either. Minimums in the entire state are in the range of 25⁰C to 29⁰C. Barmer also recorded the warmest morning in the country today at 29.5⁰C (4 degrees above normal). Ajmer on the other hand saw the morning minimum settle at 28.7⁰C (5 degrees above normal).

“Clearly, absence of any weather system, neither a Western Disturbance in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir, nor a cyclonic circulation the northern plains, which could have brought some moisture along, has led to extremely dry and hot weather in entire North India in the last 72 hours”, said G.P Sharma, of Skymet Meteorology Division in India.

“The weather in Rajasthan and the weather in North India on a whole, for the next 48 hours, could continue to be very hot. However arrivals of weather systems and change in the wind pattern from the 3^rd, till the 5^th of May, could lead to dust storms with winds of up to 50 kmph and thundershowers in Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. High temperatures will further act as a trigger in heating up the air and giving rain in the coming days”, added G.P Sharma.

The heat of the summer is being felt in Delhi too where the maximum touched 41⁰C yesterday afternoon, the highest maximum in the month of April in the last three years.

Photo by Jagran.