Several cities across India saw temperatures top 40° Celsius, or 104° Fahrenheit, this past week, with some areas exceeding 46°C (114.8°F).
Delhi experienced a heat wave for three consecutive days, recording its warmest April night in three years, with temperatures 5-6°C (9-10.8°F) above normal for the period.
Many areas in the country’s northwest remain on yellow alert, according to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) April 10 heat wave warning bulletin, which means the heat is tolerable but may be of concern to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, infants and those with chronic diseases.
Parts of Gujarat state were on orange alert as of April 10, as heat wave conditions prevailed in some districts, meaning an increased likelihood of heat-related illnesses. In orange alert areas, residents are advised to avoid heat exposure and to combat dehydration.
The government of Uttar Pradesh state ordered hospitals to be prepared for heat-related illnesses, while animal shelters and veterinary teams were reminded to be on alert and have enough shelter and water for animals.
In Barmer city, Rajasthan state, the maximum temperature rose to 45.6°C (114°F) on April 6, then to 46.4°C (115.5°F) on April 8, breaking decades of previous records for April. In fact, on April 8, almost 30 weather stations across the country recorded temperatures above 43°C (109.4°F), many categorized as having severe heat waves.
While a low-pressure system brought some rain on April 11, local media cited IMD saying heat-wave-like conditions will be felt in the northwestern regions of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan over the next few days.
The BBC quoted IMD chief Mrutyunjay Mohapatra saying that “from April to June, most parts of north and east India, central India, and the plains of north-west India are expected to experience two-to-four more heatwave days than normal.”
While it’s usual for northern India to experience heat waves by the end of April, climate change has resulted in extreme temperatures for longer periods, the BBC reported. In 2024, after Rajasthan recorded a high of 50.5°C (123°F), more than 40,000 suspected cases of heatstroke were recorded, the BBC said.
In the same BBC report, weather forecasting company Skymet’s Mahesh Palawat was quoted as saying India is going “straight from winter to summer,” with spring getting shorter.
Despite the prolonged heat waves, Science recently reported that India is warming slower than the global average. Just why remains a mystery to scientists, who are looking into air pollution, expansion of irrigation, wind shifts and other possible “cooling” factors for the country.
With people turning to air-conditioning to cool off, India’s energy demand is projected to peak by 2035 with around 130 million to 150 million new ACs, a report said, adding that renewable energy generation is also increasing.
Banner image of a mother and a child protecting themselves from the heat during the 2024 heatwave in New Delhi. Image by Sanshey Biswas/In Old News via Flickr (CCBY2.0).
This story first appeared on Mongabay
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