Northwest, Central India's temperatures to reduce a tad, but not enough to wave heat a goodbye

There will be a gradual fall in maximum temperatures by 2-4°C over Northwest and Central India during the next five days, said the India Meteorological Department on Thursday.

Parts of northwest and central India have been experiencing heat wave to severe heat wave conditions for weeks, and the temperature in Delhi reached a record high of 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22°F) in Mungeshpur neighbourhood on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, rise in maximum temperatures by 2-3°C is very likely over Maharashtra and south peninsular India during the next three days, as per the Met department.


No significant change in maximum temperatures is expected over East India in the next couple of days but a gradual fall by 2-3°C is anticipated thereafter.

"A drop in temperature was recorded in several areas yesterday. The maximum temperatures till today can touch 47 degrees Celsius plus at some stations. But overall, there is no scenario for Red Alert," the met department said.

Delhi's lieutenant governor on Wednesday directed the government to ensure measures were taken to protect labourers by providing water and shaded areas at construction sites and granting them paid leave from noon to 3 p.m.

India classifies a heat wave as a situation where the maximum temperature is 4.5 C to 6.4 C above normal, while a severe heat wave occurs when the maximum is higher than normal by 6.5 degrees or more.