The scorching heatwave engulfing eastern India shows no signs of abating, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting its continuation for at least another five days, the second such warning this month, tightens its grip on West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a stark warning on Monday, urging caution for residents in the affected areas.
Heatwave conditions have been relentless since mid-April, with Odisha sweltering since the 15th and Gangetic West Bengal enduring the scorching temperatures since the 17th.
The IMD predicts a continuation of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions across parts of West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand over the next five days.
Coastal regions in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, West Bengal and Bihar face the additional discomfort of high humidity, further exacerbating the heat stress.
Notably, eastern Madhya Pradesh is expected to experience significantly high night temperatures on April 22nd and 23rd, hindering the body's natural ability to cool down during nighttime hours. This phenomenon, exacerbated by the urban heat island effect in major cities, can pose a significant health risk.
Heatwave conditions are declared when maximum temperatures exceed pre-defined thresholds: 40°C in plains, 37°C in coastal areas and 30°C in hilly regions, with a departure from normal temperatures of at least 4.5°C.
Severe heat waves are declared when the departure from normal temperature surpasses 6.4°C.
The prevailing, but weakening El Nino conditions, earlier prompted concerns about extreme heat during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, with a billion people expected to vote.
The first phase took place on April 19th, with the second scheduled for April 26th.
The IMD forecasts a significant increase in the number of heatwave days across the country.
Compared to the average of one to three days in April, four to eight are anticipated, while the entire April-June period could see ten to twenty heatwave days, compared to the normal of four to eight.
Regions most susceptible to the heightened heatwave risk include Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Marathwada, Bihar and Jharkhand.
Some areas may even experience more than twenty scorching days.
The intense heat wave poses a dual threat, straining power grids and potentially leading to water shortages in various parts of India.
While El Nino is receding, global weather agencies, including the IMD, anticipate the development of La Nina conditions later this year.
El Nino, characterised by warmer Pacific Ocean surface waters, is associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions in India. Conversely, La Nina brings increased rainfall during the monsoon season.
In a mid-April update, the IMD predicted above-average cumulative rainfall for the 2024 monsoon season, with La Nina conditions expected to take hold by August-September.
The monsoon remains critical for India's agricultural sector, with over half of its cultivated area relying on these rains.
Additionally, the monsoon season plays a vital role in replenishing reservoirs used for drinking water and power generation across the country.
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