Sizzling day, warm night as Gurgaon records season’s hottest day | Gurgaon News

Gurgaon: The city woke up to a sweltering Tuesday as the maximum temperature rose to 42.8 degrees Celsius, which was 0.3 degrees higher than the previous day, making it the hottest day of the season. The minimum temperature was recorded at 29°C, a 0.8°C rise from Monday.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for a heatwave and warm night conditions across south Haryana, including Gurgaon, till June 12.“The dry spell is likely to persist for the next four days, with only isolated light rain anticipated. Heatwave conditions are expected to affect isolated pockets of the state from June 9 to 12. Additionally, warm night conditions may prevail in some areas during this period. From June 13 to 15, isolated places may witness thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 40–50 kmph,” said an IMD official.Somika Sharma, a resident of Sector 31, said, “It felt like stepping into an oven this morning. I couldn’t send my kids to the park because it was just too hot. We are used to summer heat, but this is something entirely different. It is exhausting just being outside for a few minutes.”Amit Khurana, who drives an auto-rickshaw, said, “It’s tough to work in this kind of heat. I carry extra water bottles and try to take breaks in the shade. But the roads feel like they’re on fire and the hot winds make it worse. We need more public water points and rest areas.”Health officials have advised people to stay hydrated, avoid outdoor activities between 12pm and 4pm, and wear light clothes. Children, the elderly and those with health conditions have been advised to remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day.Authorities are closely monitoring the weather conditions and have urged the public to follow heatwave advisories to prevent heat-related illnesses.Dr Vishwas Chitale, senior programme lead at CEEW, said, “A major part of north India, including Delhi, is currently experiencing heatwave conditions with an orange alert issued for June 10 and 11, and a yellow alert issued for June 12. According to the Heat Risk Index published by CEEW, Delhi ranks among the top 10 states and UTs in India, with 55 per cent of its districts falling in the very high-risk category and the remaining in the high-risk category. The north Indian region, which witnesses 40°C plus temperatures during the day, has shown an increase in relative humidity (about 6-9%) in the past decade. This, compounded with an increase in the very warm nights during the summers (six additional warm nights per summer were observed in Delhi in 2012-2022 compared to 1982-2011), increases the heat risk faced by the vulnerable population of the region. When heat and humidity are combined, the felt heat can be, on average, 3-5°C more than dry heat. Delhi govt’s newly launched Heat Action Plan marks a crucial step towards addressing both immediate threats and long-term resilience.”Meanwhile, Delhi experienced the warmest day of the year as the temperature soared marginally, bringing more areas of the national capital under the grip of a heatwave. The heat index, or “feel-like” temperature, was recorded at 47.7 degrees Celsius due to low humidity.The Met has, however, forecast that the extreme heat will persist on Wednesday, issuing an orange alert for the heatwave. “Heat wave conditions reported over Delhi—Lodhi Road, Ridge, Ayanagar with the highest maximum of 45.5 degrees Celsius over Ayanagar,” said Krishna Mishra, weather scientist at IMD. He added that the impact of the heatwave extended by Tuesday, with severe heatwaves in Jammu and Kashmir and many parts of Himachal Pradesh as well.The maximum temperature at the city base station was recorded at 43.8 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, making Tuesday the warmest day of the year. The maximum temperature a day earlier was 43.4 degrees Celsius, which is now the second highest. Earlier on May 16, the maximum temperature reached 42.3 degrees Celsius, now the third highest. The humidity also reduced due to more dry and warm westerly winds, oscillating between 24% and 48%.According to IMD forecast, heatwave conditions will persist through Wednesday, with relief anticipated from Friday due to potential increased moisture levels in the region, which could bring thunderstorms and rainfall. Among other hot areas of the city, Ayanagar recorded 45.5 degrees Celsius, Ridge recorded 45 degrees Celsius, Palam recorded 44.6 degrees Celsius, Pitampura recorded 44.8 degrees Celsius, and Lodhi Road recorded 43.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. By the norms of IMD, a heatwave in plain areas is declared when the maximum temperature is either 45 degrees Celsius or above, or when it’s above 40 degrees Celsius with a departure above 4.5 notches above normal. By this definition, three city areas, including Lodhi Road (departure 4.6 notches), suffered a heatwave. The Met department has forecast a heatwave warning until Wednesday, expecting the maximum temperature to hover around 44 to 46 degrees Celsius.