New Delhi: After reeling under severe heatwave with temperatures breaching 50 degrees Celsius in several locations, including apparently even in Delhi, the weather office raises hope of some respite for Northwest India and the National Capital Region as a Western Disturbance takes shape to soon bring thunderstorms with drizzle.
"Heatwave conditions will reduce during the next 2-3 days due to a moderate fall in temperature in association with an approaching Western Disturbance, rainfall or thunderstorm, and southwesterly wind blowing from the Arabian Sea to northwest India," the India Meteorological Department said in a statement.
In the last few days, the heatwave gripped entire Northwest India, with maximum temperatures reaching 50+ degrees Celsius as in Rajasthan's Churu.
The weather agency, however, said the severe heatwave conditions accompanied by dry weather will continue in many parts of the country till June 1, adding that prevailing conditions will gradually reduce over the Northwest and Central India in the next two-three days.
For the national capital, IMD shifted the heatwave warning from a red alert to orange alert for Thursday. It is forecast that temperatures will decrease by 2°C to 3°C.
"Partly cloudy sky. Heatwave conditions at a few places. Possibility of thunderstorm/dust storm with very light rain/drizzle accompanied with gusty winds (speed 25-35 kmph),” stated the regional meteorological centre, New Delhi, in its forecast for Thursday.
On Wednesday, the mercury soared to 52.9 degrees Celsius at Mungeshpur weather station, a reading the IMD said could be an outcome of faulty sensors.
"The maximum temperature over Delhi NCR varied from 45.2° to 49.1°C in different parts of the city, Mungeshpur reported 52.9°C as an outlier compared to other stations. It could be due to an error in the sensor or a local factor. IMD is examining the data and sensors," IMD said in a statement.
Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju informed that a temperature of over 52 degrees Celsius in Delhi is "very unlikely".
Delhi's primary weather station, Safdarjung observatory, recorded a maximum temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the highest in 79 years.
On the other hand, the IMD said that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely in isolated parts of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha on Thursday.
It also said that hot and humid weather is very likely to prevail over isolated parts of Konkan and Goa on May 30 and 31.