Heatwave warning in Delhi till April 8

The India Meteorological Department on Saturday issued a heatwave warning for Delhi till Tuesday, with maximum temperatures expected to be between 40 degrees Celsius and 42 degrees Celsius.

The weather agency also issued a heatwave warning for Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, the Hindustan Times reported.

On Friday, the national capital recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4 degrees Celsius, which was 4.4 degrees Celsius above normal. The minimum temperature was 19.5 degree Celsius.

The temperature is expected to reach a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius on Saturday, with surface winds and heatwave conditions.

The agency declares a heatwave for a region when the temperature crosses 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees Celsius in coastal areas and 30 degrees Celsius in the hills.

Meteorologists have attributed the conditions to warm and dry westerly winds, The Times of India reported.

“The days to come will get winds with a prominent westerly component,” the newspaper quoted meteorologist Mahesh Palawat as saying. “During summers, westerly winds become warm and dry, so the maximum temperature will increase, and there are fair chances of heatwaves or isolated heatwaves over the next few days.”

The weather department said on March 31 that most parts of eastern and central India, the plains in the northwestern part of the country, as well as the north and east peninsula are...

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