Heatwave continues in north India, no relief in sight

Heatwave conditions continued to sweep across north India today with the mercury hovering over the 45 degrees Celsius mark in most places, even as the weather department dispelled any hope of immediate relief.
Temperature in the national capital touched 45.1 degrees Celsius, while in and around Palam airport it was 47.8 degrees, the highest in 62 years.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said there is no relief likely from the heatwave tomorrow and similar weather conditions will continue.
The maximum temperature of 45.1 degrees in the capital was five degrees above normal, and it was the hottest in five years. The minimum stood at 28.6 degrees Celsius, a notch above the season's average.

The Union Territory of Chandigarh, which sizzled at 45 degrees Celsius, recorded its second highest temperature in the month of June in a decade. Earlier in June 2012, the city recorded a maximum of 45.6 degrees.
Punjab and Haryana too reeled under scorching heat with the mercury hovering above the 45 degree Celsius level at most places. Hisar in Haryana continued to be the hottest place in the region as it boiled at 46.6 degrees Celsius.

In Punjab, Ludhiana had a maximum of 46.3 degrees, its second highest temperature in the month of June in a decade.
Ludhiana -- the industrial hub of Punjab -- had posted the decade's highest maximum at 46.6 degrees in June 2007. However, Ludhiana's all time high had been 47.9 degrees, which was recorded in 1958. Amritsar and Patiala sizzled at 45.8 and 46.1 degrees, respectively.

Heatwave conditions also prevailed in the desert state of Rajasthan, with its capital Jaipur recording a high of 47 degrees Celsius, eight notched above normal.
The MeT office in Jaipur said, for the first time in the past over 33 years, the mercury has been rising in Jaipur for consecutive six days.
Gangangar recorded the state's highest at 48.6 degrees. Barring Udaipur where the maximum was 42.2 deg, temperatures in other parts of the state were above 44.2 degrees.
There is no respite in sight from the ongoing heatwave in the next 48 hours, according to a MeT forecast in Jaipur.

In Uttar Pradesh too, heatwave conditions prevailed, with
Allahabad recording the state's highest temperature at 48.3 degrees Celsius.
According to the MeT office in Lucknow, day temperatures were largely above normal in Meerut division, markedly above normal in Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Bareilly, Jhansi and Agra divisions.