This year the summer of May-June came in March-April itself and it is destroying all the records. The fire raining from the sky is burning. Dr. M Mohapatra, Director General of the Meteorological Department said that due to hot winds in April, the temperature recorded in the central and northwestern parts of the country was the highest in the last 122 years. The average maximum temperature was 35.90 in the northwest and 37.78 degrees in the central part.
According to the Meteorological Department, the temperature in the central parts in March and April was above normal. Delhi, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh recorded four degrees above normal temperature. Earlier March 2022 was the hottest in 122 years for the country as well as North West India.
There is a possibility of severe heat in May also
Mercury is likely to be above normal in May over most parts of Northwest states, West Central and Northeast India while rest of the rest are likely to remain below normal. The Meteorological Department has released this estimate on Saturday. The minimum temperature with maximum in UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand will also remain above normal. That is, there can be an outbreak of hot winds even at night. Above normal rainfall is expected in most parts of the country in May. While parts of Northwest and Northeast India along with Far East South Peninsula are likely to receive below normal rainfall.
61.4 mm record
According to the data for the year 1971-2020, the average rainfall recorded across the country in May is 61.4 mm. This time it can go up to 109%. However, it will be less than normal in the north-western states.
Tip: Children and the elderly avoid going out
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has advised to avoid heat wave and also said that children and the elderly should avoid going out in the sun. Light colored clothes should be worn to avoid the heat. The head should be covered before leaving the house.
Crisis: Heatwaves affect body and mind
The World Meteorological Organization said that lakhs of people are being affected by the severe heat in many parts of India. According to the report of Mint Lounge, extreme heat affects mental health, life. Children, the elderly, girls and people with mental, physical and medical challenges are at higher risk. According to the report of The Lancet, the increase in suicide rate due to extreme heat is also a reason for anxiety-depression. The Central Institute of Psychiatry in Ranchi also admitted that heat increased irritability and aggression. Pre-existing mental illness can triple the risk of death during a heatwave.
Heatwave is considered as such
1. A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains, 37 degrees along the coast and 30 degrees Celsius in the hilly areas.
2. A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature rises between 4.5-6.4 degrees above normal. When the maximum temperature exceeds 6.4 degrees above normal, then a severe heat wave is declared.
3. When an area records maximum temperature above 45°C and up to 47°C on any given day.
Experts divided on the cause of heat
Extraordinary heat from climate change: Indian Institute of Tropical Metrology scientist Roxy Mathew Cole said that due to climate change, the country is witnessing extraordinary heat this year. We have concluded this from 70 years of data. At the same time, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, India may face more heat, rain and an uncertain monsoon in the coming decades. A recent study showed that heat-related deaths have increased by 62 percent over the past 20 years.
Too early to blame climate change: Amid scorching heat in many parts of India and Pakistan, the United Nations Special Agency on Weather has said that it is too early to blame climate change entirely for the extreme heat in both the countries. The period of scorching heat is in line with the changing season, in which heat wave starts already. The global body said that the national meteorological, hydrological departments, health and disaster management agencies in both the countries are working together to prepare a plan to deal with the heat.