With the rise in the maximum temperature in most parts of the country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a heat wave to severe heat wave in some parts of Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan and West Rajasthan and heat wave conditions over West Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat region, East Rajasthan and Odisha.
“Heat wave to severe heat wave condition alert for some parts of Saurashtra, Kutch, Konkan and West Rajasthan and heat wave conditions over West Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat region, East Rajasthan and Odisha,” it said. This heat wave is essentially a period of abnormally high temperatures that are higher than the normal maximum summer temperatures for that particular region.
“Weather likely to be dry over most parts of the country except light isolated rainfall over Kerala & Mahe during next 5 days; over South Interior Karnataka during 17 th -19 th; Tamilnadu, Puducherry & Karaikal on 18th & 19th March,” it added. The IMD predicted that a low pressure area is likely to form over Indian Ocean and adjoining south west Bay of Bengal in the next 24 hours.
The IMD predicted severe heatwave conditions in Mumbai on Tuesday and Wednesday. The situation is expected to improve by Thursday, it added. At the same time, the temperature in Delhi will also increase between 36 and 37 degree Celsius by March 18.
The IMD said that the maximum temperatures were above normal by 3-6°C at most places over Punjab and Uttarakhand; at many places over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad; at a few places over Himachal Pradesh, West Rajasthan and Saurashtra & Kutch; at isolated places over East Rajasthan and Gujarat Region.