Yellow alert issued for Delhi: Intense heatwave ahead, IMD urges extreme caution
The alert comes just a day after a brief spell of cloudy skies and a dust storm brought relief to the residents of Delhi from the extreme heat that continued to persist.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, forecasting heatwave conditions over the next three days with daytime temperatures expected to remain between 44°C-46°C.
The alert was issued a day after a brief spell of cloudy skies and a passing dust storm over the weekend gave Delhi's exhausted residents a momentary breather.
With more heatwave predicted ahead, any hope of lasting relief has been firmly shut down.
To put that in perspective, temperatures above 40°C that are at least 4.5°C higher than what is normal for this time of year qualify as a heatwave.
Delhi is not just meeting that bar, but is leaping over it by a wide margin, and the IMD says it is about to go higher.
HOW HOT WILL DELHI GET?
The numbers from the IMD illustrate how bad the situation is expected to get.
Maximum temperatures are expected to increase by a further 1°C-2°C within the next 24 hours and are forecast to stay high until May 27.
A significant drop of around 6°C-8°C is not anticipated until after that date.
Meanwhile, nighttime lows, which normally offer some relief, are also set to rise by 2°C-3°C in the near term, easing only gradually towards the end of the month.
LOOKING AHEAD
In a city where millions live without air conditioning and large numbers work outdoors, as construction labourers, street vendors, delivery riders, and auto-rickshaw drivers, these figures are not just numbers but a warning bell going off.
These numbers translate directly into health risks, and could easily lead to cases of heat exhaustion, dehydration, and in severe cases, heat stroke.
The yellow alert will remain effective until May 27, and severe heatwave conditions have been predicted in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi between May 25 and May 27, with heatwave warnings likely to continue until May 28.
Humidity levels were recorded at 37% on Sunday morning, adding significantly to the discomfort.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it requires patience.
A healthy spell of relief is expected between May 28 and May 30, when light showers, thunderstorms, and gusty winds may finally bring temperatures down across the region.