(FE)
North India is struggling with a grilling heatwave with Delhi recording its hottest day of the season at 43.8 degrees Celsius. There’s no doubt that scorching heat and rising humidity are gripping parts of India, with orange and yellow alerts still active in several states.
The India Meteorological Department says the fading impact of recent western disturbances has left behind residual moisture which has made the heat feel even more unbearable. And with the monsoon still missing from northwest India, the discomfort is only expected to grow in the days ahead.
Western Rajasthan continues to sizzle under an intense heatwave, with temperatures in Ganganagar crossing 47 degrees Celsius for the second day in a row. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for extreme heat on June 11 and 12, followed by an orange alert on June 13. In East Rajasthan, a yellow alert has been sounded for the same day.
Some relief could be on the horizon, as thunderstorms are likely between June 15 and 16, with eastern Rajasthan expected to see a slight drop in temperature around June 18 to 20.
In Punjab, Ludhiana is also facing a brutal heatwave, with temperatures touching 44 degrees Celsius on Monday. A yellow alert remains in place through Thursday. According to the IMD, maximum temperatures are expected to stay above 40 degrees Celsius until at least June 16. While no major weather change is expected in the next few days, some isolated thunderstorms or light showers could bring temperatures closer to normal.
The heatwave has now crept into the hills as well. Himachal Pradesh’s Una recorded a scorching 44.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the highest in the state. Other hill stations like Shimla and Manali are also seeing unusually high temperatures. Officials say dry weather will dominate most of the state until June 12, but light rain is likely in isolated areas on June 13 and 14, which may offer a brief respite from the heat.
