Weather Updates highlights: ‘Orange’ alert issued for next 3 days in Delhi

The heatwave condition sweeping Haryana and Punjab continued unabated on Sunday, with Samrala and Nuh reeling at 47.2 degrees and 46.6 degrees Celsius.

The sweltering heat also battered Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, as it recorded a maximum temperature of 44.4 degrees Celsius, the Met office said.

While the scorching heat swept Samrala in Punjab's Ludhiana, Nuh was the hottest place in Haryana. (PTI)

Uttar Pradesh continued to be in the grip of heatwave conditions with the maximum temperature remaining above 45 degrees Celsius at most places in the state on Sunday.

Prayagraj recorded the highest day temperature at 47.6 degrees Celsius, 8.7 notches above normal.

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Lucknow said the weather in Uttar Pradesh remained dry during the past 24 hours. Severe heat and heat wave continued in most places of the state. (PTI)

India is currently undergoing its longest heatwave as monsoons continue to be delayed in northwestern states. According to the IMD forecast, heatwave conditions in northern states will continue to last for another 4-5 days.

Parts of Porbandar city in Gujarat witnessed heavy rainfall on Sunday, bringing relief to residents amidst rising temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for various regions across the country.

IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from June 16-17, and subsequently from June 18-20.

According to Skymet Weather, it is expected that rains will lash parts of north India starting June 18, bringing much needed relief from the heatwave conditions in northwestern states.

While Delhi continues to reel with a heatwave, monsoon showers are already making appearances in states like Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal.

IMD weather forecast: Most parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi region, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, western parts of Gangetic West Bengal, southwest Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha have experienced heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in the last 24 hours leading up to 8.30am. Read more.

In Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, a male and a female frog were married. The ceremony took place in order to please the rain Gods and get some respite from the scorching heat. This also comes at a time when several parts of India are going through water crisis, as per reports. Read more

IMD said in its recent weather forecast, “Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions likely in many parts of Uttar Pradesh whereas heatwave conditions likely in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and Bihar on 19th June, 2024.”

Severe heatwave hit Chandigarh on Saturday as the maximum temperature went an uncomfortable eight degrees above normal in some parts, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

IMD issued a heatwave alert in parts of Himachal Pradesh as tourists continue to flock the state to get away from the scorching heat in northwestern states. Maximum temperature in Himachal was recorded at 33 degrees on Sunday, multiple notches above normal.

Residents of Gautam Budh Nagar are struggling with frequent and long power cuts, making life difficult in the extreme heat. Weather experts say the city will get some relief from the intense heat in the coming days. The heatwave is expected to continue until June 19, but scattered rain is predicted around June 21 in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, and western Uttar Pradesh, which should provide some respite.

Environmental expert Sunita Narain, Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), highlighted India's current struggle with unprecedented heat this summer. She stressed the urgency of implementing a heat index and revamping city designs in response to the extreme temperatures. Narain explained to PTI editors that the severe heat affecting large parts of India is influenced by the El Nino phenomenon, which causes abnormal warming in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, compounded by ongoing climate change.

“Nobody is prepared. Let's be very clear. 2023 was globally the hottest year on record. We have broken every record in the last 45 days with an unbroken (streak of) temperatures above 40 degrees. This is climate change. It is compounded this year by the waning of the (2023-24) El Nino. This means we really need to get our act together. We need to ensure that vulnerable communities are less affected.”

Residents of the city endured another scorching day as Delhi marked its fourth consecutive day with temperatures soaring above 44 degrees Celsius (°C) on Saturday. Nighttime temperatures also remained uncomfortably warm for the second day in a row.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there's no relief in sight from the ongoing hot weather. Scientists predict that the heatwave will persist at least until Wednesday.

The city experienced a severe heatwave on Saturday, with temperatures soaring eight degrees above normal in some areas, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Similar conditions are expected to continue in the coming days. IMD has issued an orange warning for Sunday and Monday, advising people to stay prepared.

On Saturday, the maximum temperature at the Sector 39 IMD observatory was 43.8°C, down slightly from 44°C on Friday but still 7.2 degrees above normal. Meanwhile, at the airport observatory, the temperature reached 44.9°C, which is 8.3 degrees above normal, indicating severe heatwave conditions at both locations.

In Himachal Pradesh, a fire started in the forests of Solan. Forest officials and fire trucks are working to put out the fire.

The heatwave has been ongoing in North India for a prolonged period. As a result, people are flocking to hill stations such as Manali.

A tourist told PTI, "I have come here with my whole family and I feel very good coming here and we will keep coming here. We get relief from the heat here. We have planned to go to Rohtang and will enjoy there also. In rafting we find it a little scary in the beginning but after that we become normal with it and later we feel like we do rafting only all day."

Delhi Water Minister Atishi writes a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora saying, "I am writing to request deployment of police personnel to patrol and protect our major pipelines for the next 15 days to stop miscreants or people with ulterior motives from tampering water pipelines which have now become Delhi's lifelines. At this juncture any foul play and sabotage will worsen the already difficult water shortage being faced by the people of Delhi."

Due to the intense heat and rising temperatures in Delhi, Union Minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat blamed the Delhi government's distribution system for the ongoing water crisis in the capital.

He said to ANI, "Primarily, the responsibility is of the Delhi government. Being the former 'Jal-Shakti' minister, I would like to say that it is an absolute failure of the Delhi government distribution system."

On Sunday, the city's minimum temperature was 33.2 degrees Celsius, which is 5.7 degrees higher than the usual for this time of year. The weather department predicts a mostly clear sky and heatwave conditions throughout the day.

At 8:30 am, the humidity was 42 percent. The maximum temperature is expected to reach around 45 degrees Celsius.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded as "poor" with a reading of 215 at 9 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

There was no relief from the heatwave in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday, with Abohar in Fazilka district hitting 47.1 degrees Celsius.

Chandigarh, the shared capital of both states, also faced extreme heat with a maximum temperature of 43.8 degrees Celsius, according to the Met Department.

In Punjab, Gurdaspur was extremely hot at 46.5 degrees Celsius. Other hot spots included Amritsar (44.4 degrees), Ludhiana (44.3 degrees), and both Patiala and Pathankot at 45.1 degrees Celsius.

After heavy rains and landslides in Sikkim, which killed nine people and stranded 1,200-1,400 tourists in Mangan district, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang announced ₹five lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and promised to rebuild destroyed homes.

Over the past three days, Sikkim experienced two natural disasters: a landslide in Namchi district that killed three people, and another landslide in Mangan district on the nights of June 12 and 13 that killed six people. Approximately 1,200-1,400 tourists are currently stranded in Mangan district.