Chandigarh, April 26: A scorching heatwave gripped Chandigarh on Friday as the maximum temperature touched 40.5°C — the highest recorded in April since 2022 — triggering a yellow alert from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The temperature jumped from Thursday’s 39.5°C to a searing 40.5°C, registering a 4.6°C rise above normal.
According to IMD, heatwave conditions are declared in this region when the mercury crosses 40°C and stays over 4.5°C above the seasonal average.
“This temperature rise was expected as summer deepens,” said Surender Paul, director of IMD Chandigarh.
“We’re seeing signs of a hotter season ahead, with heatwaves arriving earlier than usual. Normally, these hit in May, but April is seeing the impact already.”
Friday’s reading marked the first time this season that the city crossed the 40°C threshold.
The last instance of such extreme heat in April was in 2022, when the temperature peaked at 42.2°C on April 29 and 30 — the highest since IMD’s Sector 39 station began keeping records in 2012.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert — the second-highest level in its four-tier warning system — urging residents to stay updated and take precautions.
The alert comes amid forecasts that the heatwave will persist through the weekend and possibly intensify in the coming week, with temperatures expected to reach 42°C.
Even nighttime is offering little relief. The minimum temperature on Friday rose to 20.7°C from Thursday’s 19.3°C, and though still 0.6°C below normal, it’s projected to climb further to between 21°C and 23°C in the next three days.
While a new Western Disturbance is likely to approach towards the end of the month, Paul noted it may not bring any substantial relief to the region.
In comparison, no heatwave was recorded in April last year. The city had touched the 40°C mark only on April 26 — nearly identical to this year’s timeline.
