IMD issues heatwave alert in Bengal, likely to prevail
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a forecast of intense heatwave warnings for eight districts of West Bengal until May 2. On Sunday, heatwaves prevailed in two districts of North Bengal – Malda and North Dinajpur, with mean temperatures of 41 °C and 38 °C, respectively.
The other six districts recorded: Bankura (43.5 °C), West and East Burdwan (44 °C), East and West Medinipur (41 °C), and Birbhum (42 °C). Meanwhile, Kalimpong and Darjeeling districts recorded 25.2 °C and 22.4 °C, the lowest in West Bengal. Jhargram district had previously received an “orange warning” that was updated on Sunday to “red.”.
The highest temperature in the district was recorded in Kalaikunda at 45.8 °C, followed by Panagarh at 44.6 °C. The capital city of Kolkata observed 41.3 °C, 6° more than average. There were fewer people and vehicles on the streets due to the scorching heat. IMD has issued warnings of increasing cases of dehydration, heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related illnesses occurring in the next few days.
DO’s during #Heatwave@moesgoi@DDNewslive@ndmaindia@airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/59FtYPB35v
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 28, 2024
A Met spokesperson stated dry westerly-north westerly winds at lower levels over the Gangetic West Bengal have substantially increased solar insolation, and as a result, extreme heatwave-like conditions will “prevail over the districts between April 28 and May 2.”
IMD has also issued a “red alert” with extreme heatwave-like conditions over Gangetic West Bengal, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Nadia, Howrah, Murshidabad, and Purulia, prevailing for the days ahead till May 2. ‘Orange alerts’ have also been issued for Bihar and Jharkhand, while ‘Yellow alerts’ were issued for Northern Kerala and Eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Odisha faces “red alert”, with heatwaves to persist
The temperature in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, remained at 43 °C with a minimum temperature of 25 °C throughout the day. With extreme heatwave conditions observed throughout the city, state officials issued a public advisory urging citizens to avoid venturing out during peak hours—between 12 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Indian Meteorological Department has also instructed state health departments to be on high alert for an influx of patients with heat-related illnesses. In some places, pedestrians reported melting asphalt due to the scorching temperatures.
A senior scientist of IMD, Soma Sen Roy, has stated that in addition to Bengal, North Odisha will also face severe heatwave conditions in the upcoming days; hence, the department has issued a “red alert” for the region. She added that the weather patterns have grown increasingly unpredictable in recent years, as evident by the heavy thunderstorms currently being observed in some parts of Delhi.
Maximum temperatures reported (≥40°C) at 1730 hrs IST of today, the 28th April 2024 pic.twitter.com/IqRtBWkWRG
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 28, 2024
She further stated, “Yesterday there was a lot of thunderstorm activity, but today we are not expecting so much weather over the North Indian Plains. Mainly in the Western Himalayan region, thunderstorms, as well as heavy rains, are likely to continue over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh; hence, an orange alert has been issued there. A yellow alert is issued for Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, etc. We are expecting thunderstorm activity to again enhance, especially over North-West India, from the day after tomorrow, which is April 29, 2024.”
The increasing heatwave trend indicates worsening climate change
Climate scientists have acknowledged the correlation between recent climate disasters and global warming as human-induced climate change becomes readily apparent. The heatwave conditions being observed in India are likely to worsen to more deadly levels in the upcoming days.
All parts of the world have experienced a higher intensity of natural disasters than previously witnessed: floods in Dubai, floods in Russia, earthquakes in Java and Japan, etc. The sharp rise in global temperatures is also reflected in the oceans of the earth as the polar ice caps continue to melt at an unprecedented rate.
The warming of the ocean now stands as a harbinger of extinction for countless marine ecosystems and life forms that mount an extensive defence against the rage of our oceans, preserving coastlines and marine life alike.
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