Page 13 - Heatwave

No heatwave conditions over most of India for five days, says IMD

The India Meteorological Department on Saturday said most parts of India will have a sigh of relief for the next five days from the searing heatwave conditions that had rattled people this week. It said a cyclonic circulation lies over northwest Madhya Pradesh and another over interior Tamil Nadu. A trough of relatively low pressure runs from northwest Madhya Pradesh to south Tamil Nadu across Telangana. Private forecaster Skymet Weather added another trough extends from northeast Bihar to Odisha via Jharkhand. Weather experts say a trough usually brings cloudy conditions and rain, leading to a drop in temperatures. According to the IMD, several parts of India had been experiencing heatwave conditions for the past few days. High temperatures in the northern and central plains had forced the local administrations to either change the timings or shut the schools until the weather improves. Even in the eastern hills, tea growers complained of relatively high temperatures and prolonged

Understanding the wet-bulb effect: How heat and humidity affect us

Wet-bulb temperature is used to depict the temperature at which our bodies will be unable to cool themselves down by sweating

Heatwave in India: Mercury in Rajasthan's Bundi district touches 45 degrees

In wake of the extreme weather, several states have revised the school timings while others have preponed the summer vacation

Temperature surge across India raises risk of blackouts, even deaths

India's bracing for what might be a hotter summer than usual

Tripura identifies heatwave, sun stroke as disasters amid scorching heat

The Tripura government has identified heatwave, sun stroke and sun burn as disasters, amid scorching heat in most parts of the northeastern state, an official notification said. It noted that according to the India Meteorological Department, similar conditions may continue for more days. You are aware that Heat Wave, Sun Stroke and Sun Burn have been identified as the State Specific Disasters in Tripura. In view of the above, you are requested to kindly take necessary steps... by conducting extensive awareness through different media, update weather conditions, provide drinking water, provision of shades, medical supports and other necessary provisions in your districts, the notice sent to all district magistrates and collectors said. It instructed them to activate the emergency operation centres, quick response teams and resources, and ensure uninterrupted power supply to all areas. Agartala recorded a maximum temperature of 38 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, while in Kailashahar, the

Heat wave: States on alert; Grid braces for record peak power demand

While a few states have heat action plans, experts warn they are not enough

No respite from scorching heat in UP; Prayagraj sizzles at 44.2 deg C

People of Uttar Pradesh got no respite from the scorching heat on Wednesday as the mercury crossed the 44 degrees Celsius-mark at various places. According to the Meteorological Department, weather was dry and heat wave conditions prevailed at isolated places across the state. Hamirpur and Prayagraj were the hottest places in the state with the maximum temperature reaching 44.2 degrees Celsius. Kushinagar recorded 44.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Jhansi (43.6 degrees Celsius), Agra (43.4 degrees Celsius) and Kanpur (43 degrees Celsius), it said. The weather is likely to remain dry over eastern Uttar Pradesh while rain is expected at isolated places in the western part of the state, the Met office said.

Air pollution, heat, ambient noise linked to lower sleep quality: Study

Air pollution, heat, and high levels of carbon dioxide and ambient noise may all adversely affect our ability to get a good night's sleep, according to a study. The research, published in the journal Sleep Health, is one of the first to measure multiple environmental variables in the bedroom and analyse their associations with sleep efficiencythe time spent sleeping relative to the time available for sleep. The researchers found that in a group of 62 participants tracked for two weeks with activity monitors and sleep logs, higher bedroom levels of air pollution (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size or PM2.5), carbon dioxide, noise, and temperature were all linked independently to lower sleep efficiency. "These findings highlight the importance of the bedroom environment for high-quality sleep," said study lead author Mathias Basner, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, US. In addition to work and family obligations that compete with sleep for time, a quick

Economic cost of heat waves higher in India than the rest of the world

More productivity loss expected than elsewhere as temperatures rise

Temperatures soar this summer but Delhi's heat action plan not ready yet

Most parts of India are expected to see above-normal temperatures and more heatwave days this summer season but the national capital is yet to implement a heat action plan (HAP), four years after the Centre recommended it to do so. Environment Minister Gopal Rai told PTI on Tuesday that the government is "holding discussions with experts, and a heatwave action plan will be prepared if something concrete emerges". HAPs are the primary policy response to economically damaging and life-threatening heatwaves. They prescribe a number of activities, disaster responses and post-heatwave response measures to decrease the impact of heatwaves. Heatwave conditions persisted in parts of Delhi for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. Greenpeace India has also written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, urging him to publish a heat action plan by May 7 after consultations with all stakeholders. The environmental NGO said heatwaves adversely impact thousands of outdoor or construction workers, t

IMD issues heatwave warning in parts of Bihar for 2 days from Tuesday

The meteorological department has issued an 'orange' alert with a warning of severe heatwave conditions for two days from Tuesday in Patna, Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Aurangabad, Supaul and several other districts of Bihar. Besides, a yellow' warning has also been sounded in Begusarai, Nalanda, Gaya, Arwal, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Buxar, Khagaria and Munger. The meteorological department uses four colour codes - green (no action needed), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared) and red (take action) - for weather warning. People are advised to avoid heat exposure and dehydration, a senior official of the Bihar Disaster Management Department said. Heatwave conditions are expected to prevail in Patna, Banka, Jamui, Nawada, Aurangabad and Supaul districts in Bihar in the next two days, according to the latest weather bulletin issued by the department's Patna Centre. The mercury level crossed 43 degrees Celsius or above in Sheikhpura, Khagaria, Patna, Gaya and Dehri on ...

IMD predicts marginal heat wave conditions for next two days in Delhi-NCR

"Marginal heat wave means the temperature can go 4.5-5 degrees Celsius above normal"

LIVE: UP CM takes cognizance of Prayagraj case, calls high-level meeting

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Summer vacation in Bengal schools preponed by 3 weeks due to intense heat

The summer vacation in West Bengal government-run and aided schools will begin from May 2 instead of the earlier schedule of May 24 in the wake of sweltering heat across the state, a senior official said on Wednesday. An official notification in this regard is, however, yet to be issued. "Due to the intense heat, a decision has been taken to reschedule the summer vacations. It will now start from May 2. The decision was taken on the insistence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee," the official told PTI. Later, when Education Minister Bratya Basu was asked by reporters about the development, he replied in the affirmative. According to the India Meteorological Department, heat wave conditions will persist in West Bengal during the weekend. The districts of Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Medinipur, Paschim Bardhaman and Birbhum will experience hot and dry weather and the temperature may increase by 2-4 degrees, the Met Department said.

Intense, frequent heatwaves push India closer to limit of human survival

The national weather office has forecast rising temperatures in the coming weeks after India experienced its hottest February since 1901

Indian industries stock up on coal to avoid shortages during summer

The fear of disruptions to mine output when monsoon rains begin a couple of months later is also a factor

Kerala to set up water kiosks, launch awareness drive as summer approaches

With many parts of Kerala reeling under intense heat, the state government on Saturday announced a series of plans including setting up water kiosks in local bodies and busy commercial streets in anticipation of a heat wave and possible sun stroke. Cold water, butter milk and oral rehydration solution (ORS) would be kept as per requirement in these water kiosks, known as 'thanneer pandals" in local parlance, across the state. The kiosks should be kept open till May, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan directed in a meeting of State Disaster Management Authority which was attended by heads of various departments and district collectorates here. District-wise notification should be issued to the general public about the location of such 'thanneer pandals' and public buildings and the space provided by noble people can be used for the same, he said. Village panchayats, municipalities and corporations would be allotted Rs 2 lakh, 3 lakh and 5 lakh respectively from the Disaster Response Fu

India's wheat output dented by heatwave, could limit govt stock building

The reduction in production amid a drop in inventories to the lowest level in 6 years may force the world's second biggest producer of the grain to allow imports after banning exports last year

Met predicts above-normal temperature in March-May in upper half of country

Says average max temperature in Feb 2023 highest since 1901; wheat crop under stress