Heatwave sweeps across north, mercury hovers around 45-deg C

With the mercury nearing the 45 degrees Celsius mark in most parts, sweltering heatwave conditions today continued across north India, affecting normal life.
The national capital reeled under intense heat as the maximum temperature settled at 43.4 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal for this part of the year.
The minimum temperature, however, remained two points below normal at 26 degrees Celsius. Humidity oscillated between 21 and 65 per cent during the day.
In the desert state of Rajasthan, blistering heatwave continued for the second day today affecting normal life. Churu recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 47.1 degrees Celsius.

The mercury has risen by one to four degrees at most places due to the prevailing dry weather conditions. Barring Udaipur where it was 42.5 degrees Celsius, elsewhere in the state the maximum temperature settled above 44 degrees.
Jaisalmer recorded a maximum of 47 degrees, followed by Bikaner 46.8, Barmer 46.7, and Ganganagar 46.1. State capital Jaipur recorded the season's highest at 45.1 degrees Celsius.

Uttar Pradesh too continued to reel under scorching heat, with the weather remaining dry. Allahabad recorded the state's highest maximum temperature at 44.3 degrees Celsius.
According to the local MeT office, day temperatures rose appreciably in Allahabad and Lucknow divisions; rose in Varanasi, Faizabad, Agra, Moradabad and Meerut divisions; and changed a little in the remaining divisions of the State.

They were appreciably above normal in Faizabad and Lucknow divisions; above normal in Meerut division; and were normal in the remaining divisions of the state.
In Punjab and Haryana, intense heatwave conditions prevailed with the mercury soaring to several notches above normal in both states.
Hisar in Haryana was the hottest place in both states as it sizzled at 45 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. The Union Territory of Chandigarh had a high of 43 degrees.
In Haryana, Ambala, Karnal and Bhiwani recorded maximum of 44, 44.2 and 44.2 degrees Celsius, respectively. In Punjab, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala had high of 43.8, 44 and 44 degrees, respectively.

According to the local MeT department forecast, weather conditions will continue to remain dry in the next 24 hours.