Heatwaves likely to intensify in India and Pakistan, temperatures may soar above 40 degrees

Guwahati, April 26: Indian along with its neighbour Pakistan may experience severe heatwaves this week with record-breaking temperatures above 105 degrees F (40 degrees C).

As per weather experts, the heatwave weather began in late March for northern India and Pakistan, and spread into the first weeks of April. They further highlighted that although heatwaves are common in this region during the pre-monsoon season from April to June, it was unusually early.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are likely to set in over several parts of northwest and east India by the end of April and extend into early May.

IMD's extended range forecast for April 22-28 and April 29-May 5 suggest maximum temperatures are likely to be significantly above normal (3°C- 6°C above normal) over many parts of the country during the week starting on April 29.

Parts of east India, including Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar etc, are likely to be significantly impacted by heat stress, parts of northwest India are likely to also report extremely high temperatures, the forecast stated.

On Monday, IMD issued a heatwave warning over several districts of West Bengal from April 25 to April 28 and asked the residents of the state to avoid prolonged heat exposure. "Mainly dry north-westerly wind is prevailing over the region. Meteorological conditions suggest that heat wave condition is likely to prevail over some districts of West Bengal during 25-28 April, 2022," the IMD said in a bulletin.