Heatwave conditions are likely to grip the northern plains during this week. Punjab, Haryana and Delhi/NCR will get a hard slap of scorching heat. Heat intensity will grow as the week progresses and peak around the weekend between the 17th and 19th May 2024. This will be the first bout of typical pre-monsoon heat for the plains of North India. Intensity and spread will be large enough to cover almost each and every, nook and corner of the region.
The effect of western disturbance will be rather mild and also confined to the mountains. The induced circulation over farther parts of North Rajasthan will be very feeble. This feature may give isolated thunderstorms/dust storms over North Rajasthan and border areas of Punjab and Haryana, covering Ganganagar, Anupgarh, Hanumangarh, Suratgarh, Fazilka, Muktsar, Bathinda, Sirsa and Hisar, tomorrow in the late hours of the day. Activity will be for a short duration and quick clearance is expected. No relief from the heat is likely, the next day.
Mercury will rise sharply from mid-week onwards and may peak around the weekend. The soaring temperatures may even spill over to the next week, as well. Surface winds may also pick up to trigger ‘loo’ conditions in some parts. The mercury is likely to reach 44°C, for the first time in the season over many parts of these states. The list of cities will include Amritsar, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Fazilka, Firozpur, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Patiala, Ropar, Ambala, Karnal, Hisar, Narnaul, Sirsa, Rohtak, Panipat and DLH/NCR.
The mercury levels at many places will be 5°-6°C above the normal and therefore, amounting to heat wave conditions. Some of the locations may breach the 45°C mark during this period and may even observe severe heatwave conditions. The national capital has recorded the highest temperature of 42°C, so far. Mercury reaching 44°C will trigger the first heat wave of this season for the National Capital Territory.
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