NEW DELHI, April 16— The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced Wednesday that day temperatures are expected to climb steadily across the nation, with the mercury likely to surpass the 40°C mark in the coming days. Weather officials attributed this surge to the absence of active western disturbances, predicting that the national capital could see temperatures reaching 42°C by April 18.
Meteorologists stated that maximum temperatures will likely stay above the seasonal average for northwest, central, and east India throughout the week. The IMD forecast indicated that heatwave conditions, alongside hot and humid weather, are anticipated in isolated areas of the central, east, west, and south regions. On Wednesday, the highest maximum temperature of 44°C was already documented in Akola, Maharashtra, and Kalaburagi, Karnataka.
While most of the country prepares for the heat, a minor respite may be approaching the northern mountains. Officials noted that a weak western disturbance is expected to reach the Himalayan region late Thursday. This system is anticipated to bring moderate rainfall to Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh through April 19, with scattered showers possible in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on April 17.
Despite the localized mountain rain, the broader trend remains one of intensifying heat. The IMD maintained that temperatures across northwest India could rise by up to 4°C through April 18. National weather experts affirmed that various states, including Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, are likely to experience formal heatwave conditions during the current week.
