Delhi recorded its hottest day of the year on Sunday, clocking a maximum temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
This was the highest maximum temperature recorded in the national capital this summer so far. The previous hottest day recorded was on April 27, when the maximum temperature settled at 40.5 degrees Celsius.
The weather office has forecast mainly clear skies for Monday, with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle at 41 and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Several states in India experienced scorching heat on Sunday with temperatures soaring up to 45 degrees Celsius.
Parts of Telangana, Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, north interior Karnataka and northern Madhya Pradesh recorded temperatures of 44-45 degrees Celsius, marking a surge in heat in isolated pockets across these states.
Sweltering conditions in parts of Marathwada, southeast Uttar Pradesh, northeast Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, north Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh touched maximum temperatures between 42 degrees and 44 degrees Celsius.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that these temperatures were not just above the average, but significantly higher.
In parts of Gangetic West Bengal, the temperatures were recorded to be 4-7 degrees Celsius above normal, raising concerns about the adverse effects on human health and agricultural productivity.
Major areas in Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Rayalaseema, and Tamil Nadu and even in isolated pockets of Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand the temperatures exceeded normal levels by 2-5 degrees Celsius.
These temperatures echo the global rise in heatwaves, highlighting the consequences of climate change. Higher temperatures can lead to water shortages, impact agriculture, and pose health risks, particularly in densely populated regions.
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