Delhi continued to reel under heatwave conditions on Monday with the mercury inching past the 45°C mark. A red alert will remain in place till Tuesday while an ‘yellow’ alert has been sounded for Wednesday and Thursday. The India Meteorological Department has predicted some relief from the scorching heat from June 19.
According to the Met department bulletin issued on Monday afternoon, there will be no significant change in maximum temperatures during the next 24 hours. It is predicted to fall by around 2°C thereafter in northwest India.
Heatwave conditions are also likely to prevail over most parts of Uttar Pradesh (till June 19) and over isolated parts of Himachal Pradesh and Bihar (till June 18) and decrease in intensity later this week.
The Patna district administration announced an extension of school closures till June 19 in light of the prevailing weather conditions.
“All government and private schools in the district will remain closed on June 18 and 19 for classes up to 8th grade. During this period, teachers and non-teaching staff are required to be present in the school/office and perform their duties,” read the announcement from Patna DM Shirsat Kapil Ashok.
Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions were recorded at most places in Delhi with the Safdarjung observatory, the primary weather station of the national capital, registering a high of 45.2 degrees Celsius, 6.4 notches above the season’s average. It was also a warm Monday morning with the minimum temperature settling at 33 degrees Celsius — 5.5 notches above normal.
The Palam weather station recorded a maximum temperature of 46 degrees Celsius, seven notches above normal, while the Lodhi Road, Ridge and the Ayanagar observatories registered readings of 45.6 degrees, 46.3 degrees and 46.4 degrees, respectively. The Najafgarh observatory recorded a high of 46.3 degrees Celsius, seven notches above normal.
(With inputs from agencies)