The relentless summer temperatures this April have even surpassed the India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s forecast of the number of heatwaves expected this month. The eastern state of Odisha has been scorched by a severe heatwave that has continued unabated for the last two weeks.
The weather department had predicted a higher number of heatwaves this summer due to the prevailing El Niño conditions – expecting the number of days to be around two to eight in central India and the adjoining northern peninsula. However, the heatwave conditions have not only swept a larger area than expected but have already entered the 16th day in Odisha with no breaks in between. Neighbouring West Bengal has also remained under the tight grip of the searing wave since April 17.
Hit by a severe heatwave, East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand recorded the highest maximum temperature at 47.1℃ on Tuesday, which was 7.7℃ above normal. It soared to 45.4℃ in Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh), 46.4℃ in Baripada (Odisha), 45.4℃ in Bhubaneswar (Odisha), and 42.8℃ in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
Temperatures expected to rise further
The bad news is that the temperatures are expected to rise further by 2-3℃ over the region during the next two days, and a red warning has been issued for Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar until May 2 urging people to take adequate precautions.
“This is even worse than 2016. At least we had some intermittent rains, but this time the heat has continued for weeks now. Places like Simlipal have recorded 44-45℃ temperatures, and the same for Bhubaneswar. This may well be one of the longest heatwave spells over the state in April,” says Dr S C Sahu, former director of the Regional Meteorological Centre of IMD Bhubaneswar.
The temperatures normally hover around 38-42℃ over most parts of the country during April with a few heatwave days. However, the mercury has already surged past 44℃ in several places and is refusing to plummet even during the evening hours, with some places in Odisha recording severe warm nights. Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh recorded its highest-ever temperature of 44.7°C for April on Monday.
The eastern region was also the worst-hit last April, when scorching heatwaves swept West Bengal for 10 days, Bihar for seven days, and continued across Odisha for nearly five days until April 22. However, it worsened in June amid the delayed arrival of the southwest monsoon. Bihar simmered for nearly 19 days, and the heatwaves gripped West Bengal for 17 days and Odisha and Jharkhand for over 14 days.
Heatwave to continue over southern states till May 3
The latest forecast suggests there is likely to be some respite for east India after May 2, when the wind pattern changes to bring some cool breeze which could reduce the intensity of the heatwave. However, the heatwaves will continue to scorch southern states – Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, interior Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu as well as Konkan, central Maharashtra, and Saurashtra at least till May 3.
“This is an El Niño year when the warm atmosphere gets even hotter. The IMD had predicted a higher number of heatwaves this summer, and we have experienced that, especially in the eastern as well as the southern states,” says Akhil Shrivastava, scientist at IMD New Delhi.
The high humidity levels have taken a toll on neighbouring West Bengal, which recorded the highest temperature of 45.4℃ on Monday in Kalaikunda. This was 8.6℃ above normal. The mercury has been settling at least 6-8℃ above normal in other regions like Malda (West Bengal), Baripada (Odisha), and Sheikhpura (Bihar) for the last few days with a severe heatwave prevailing.
“Every year is turning out to be hotter than the previous one. Average temperatures have been consistently rising in which both the land as well as the oceans have a role to play. It is high time that we adopt policies that can mitigate the impact of rising temperatures. Although several cities have come up with heatwave action plans, they must ensure proper implementation,” said Arti Khosla, director, Climate Trends.
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