Jaipur: The Meteorological Centre in Jaipur has issued red, orange, and yellow alerts for a heatwave across Rajasthan, effective through Wednesday and continuing until April 18. A yellow alert will remain in effect on April 19.
Currently, Jaisalmer and Barmer are under a red alert for Wednesday, while 11 other districts are classified under orange and yellow alerts. The Meteorological Department anticipates an intensification of heat in western Rajasthan over the next two to three days.
Radheshyam Sharma, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Jaipur, indicated that a weak Western Disturbance is expected to become active in parts of the state on April 16-17. As a result, dust storms, light cloud cover, and scattered light rain or drizzle may occur during this period.
Meteorologists have confirmed that a phase of severe heat has begun in Rajasthan. On Tuesday, temperatures in Barmer exceeded 45 degrees Celsius, leading to extreme daytime conditions. In contrast, Udaipur and Dungarpur experienced a shift in weather post-noon, with cloud cover, dust storms, and light rain providing temporary relief from the heat.
Heatwave conditions have persisted statewide, with Barmer recording the highest temperature, followed closely by Jaisalmer at 45.4 degrees Celsius, Phalodi at 44.4 degrees, Chittorgarh at 43.1 degrees, Jalore at 42.4 degrees, and both Bikaner and Sriganganagar at 42.3 degrees. Jodhpur registered a high of 42.2 degrees, while Jaipur recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 25.4 degrees. The city experienced clear skies and strong sunshine throughout the day. Weather experts predict the heatwave will further intensify starting April 17.
Additionally, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in New Delhi has released its monsoon forecast, predicting above-normal rainfall this season in various regions, including Rajasthan. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is expected to remain neutral, which could contribute to favorable monsoon conditions. Experts anticipate good rainfall across both western and eastern Rajasthan this year.
In the border districts of western Rajasthan, temperatures are expected to reach around 45 to 46 degrees Celsius, with strong heatwave conditions likely in parts of these divisions. Furthermore, a heatwave is predicted in the Jaipur and Bharatpur divisions from April 17 to 18, according to Sharma.
The weather department advises that under red alert conditions, there is a very high likelihood of developing heat-related illnesses and heat strokes across all age groups, necessitating extreme caution for vulnerable individuals.