New Delhi, April 19 -- Many places across northern states including Delhi on Sunday recorded above-normal temperatures crossing 40 degrees Celsius during the day, while the India Meteorological Department warned of heatwave conditions in parts of Uttar Pradesh in the coming days.
However, Jammu and Kashmir saw a dip in temperatures with fresh snowfall in the higher reaches and rainfall in the plains. A western disturbance is likely to provide similar relief with a wet spell in the mid and high hills of Himachal Pradesh on Monday, Friday and Saturday, according to the Shimla MeT office.
In Uttar Pradesh, cities including Prayagraj, Varanasi, Sultanpur, Agra, Barabanki, Bahraich, Shahjahanpur and Hardoi recorded temperatures significantly above normal, indicating the onset of heatwave conditions.
Prayagraj recorded a high of 44.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Varanasi at 44.2 degrees Celsius and Banda at 43.6 degrees Celsius. Several other districts including Sultanpur, Barabanki and Bahraich also reported temperatures above 42 degrees Celsius. According to the Meteorological Centre in Lucknow, dry westerly winds in the lower troposphere over interior Maharashtra are causing a gradual increase in temperatures.
Barring the Terai region adjoining Uttarakhand, maximum temperatures have crossed 40 degrees Celsius in most parts of the state.
In Haryana as well, maximum temperature settled above normal in several parts, with Rohtak being the hottest place at 42.3 degrees Celsius, the meteorological office said.
The maximum temperature in Rohtak was five degrees above normal. Neighbouring Punjab similarly witnessed above-normal temperatures.
Bathinda was the hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 41.3 degrees Celsius. Ludhiana recorded a high of 40 degrees Celsius and Patiala 40.5 degrees Celsius.
In Rajasthan, Kota recorded the highest maximum temperature at 42.1 degrees Celsius.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.