IMD warns of ongoing heat wave conditions in East India, severe heat waves likely over next two days

New Delhi (India), April 18, 2023: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning stating that the ongoing heat wave conditions in East India are expected to persist for the next four days before subsiding.

According to the department, the states of Gangetic West Bengal and Bihar are likely to witness severe heat waves in isolated pockets over the next two days, followed by a decrease in intensity over the next two days.

In sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Jharkhand, heat wave conditions will continue to be present in isolated pockets for two days before dissipating.

Meanwhile, Northwest India, Central India, and South India are expected to maintain their current temperature levels, with only a 2-3 degree Celsius drop in maximum temperatures expected in the following two days.

The IMD has reported that heat wave conditions have already persisted in isolated pockets across Gangetic West Bengal for the last seven days, in coastal Andhra Pradesh for the last five days, in Bihar for the last four days, and in Punjab and Haryana for the last two days.

On April 17, maximum temperatures over most parts of Central and East India ranged from 40 to 44 degrees Celsius, with some parts of East and Northeast India experiencing temperatures above normal levels by 3-5 degrees Celsius.

As India continues to witness more heat waves and fewer cold waves, a recent study by the University of Hyderabad has highlighted the need for the country to prepare for the threat of extreme heat waves and a “wet bulb” summer.

With rising temperatures and a changing climate, it is crucial that the government and citizens take the necessary measures to protect themselves from the dangers of heat waves.