Page 8 - Heatwave

Killer April heat wave in Asia was made much worse by climate change

In South Asia, which was the focus of two such studies in 2022 and 2023, abnormal heat was found to be 45 times more likely to occur, and to be 0.85C higher due to climate change

245 mn more older adults, mostly in Asia, Africa, to face acute heat: Study

By 2050, world would have added more than 24.5 crore older adults who will be exposed to dangerous acute heat, with those living in Asia and Africa likely to experience the most severe effects, a new research has projected. With populations around the world ageing at an "unprecedented rate," researchers said that the number of people aged over 60 years is expected to double to nearly 210 crore by 2050, with more than two-thirds living in lower- and middle-income countries. These regions are especially vulnerable to extreme events driven by climate changes. The team, which included researchers from the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change, Italy, analysed trends regarding exposure of people from different age groups around the world to extremely high temperatures. "By 2050, more than 23 per cent of the global population aged over 69 years will live in climates with acute heat exposure greater than the critical threshold of 37.5 degrees Celsius, compared with 14 per cent in ..

Food inflation likely to remain cause for concern due to heatwave: ICRA

The wholesale food inflation, which is at a four-month high, will continue to be a cause for concern in May and June as heatwave is likely to jack up prices of perishable commodities, ICRA Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said on Tuesday. Although the impact of high base of last year will play out in July and August, the impact of monsoon will determine the price conditions in the subsequent months. As per data released on Tuesday, the wholesale price index (WPI)-based food inflation was at a four-month high of 7.74 per cent in April. Retail food inflation also remained stubbornly high at 8.70 per cent in April 2024, as against 3.84 per cent in April 2023. Nayar said weather is an important factor in determining the food inflation trajectory. Monsoon was not very favourable last year and this year there are heatwaves in parts of the country, she said. "With the onset of summer, prices of perishable items are charting upwards. For the next two months, we expect the food inflation to cli

IMD weather update: Heatwave reigns, rainfall prediction in many states

According to IMD, heatwave conditions are expected to lessen over East India and south Peninsular India from today onwards. Meanwhile, Northeast is anticipated to observe heavy rains

Why is Uttarakhand up in flames? Key details about the state's forest fires

Five lives have been lost so far due to out-of-control wildfires in Uttarakhand, which started more than a week ago and have now spread to several regions in the state

Delhi's maximum temperature settles at 41.1 deg C, season's highest so far

The maximum temperature in Delhi settled two notches above normal at 41.1 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday. This was the highest maximum temperature recorded in the national capital this summer so far. The previous hottest day recorded earlier was April 27, with a maximum temperature of 40.5 degrees Celsius, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. The relative humidity oscillated between 19 per cent and 63 per cent during the day. The weather office has forecast mainly clear skies for Monday, with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to settle at 41 and 24 degrees Celsius, respectively.

How is Delhi escaping heat wave while the rest of the country is suffering?

The IMD scientist said that the weatherman will keep tracking developments over Haryana and south Rajasthan for the next two weeks for a possible heat wave occurrence

Southern Bengal, parts of northern districts sizzle as heatwave continues

Heatwave prevailed in south Bengal and many parts of the northern districts of West Bengal on Sunday as the Met department forecast it will continue, particularly in southern districts, till May 2. The day's maximum temperature was recorded at 44.3 degrees Celsius, 7.5 deg C above normal, at Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur district, the department said in a bulletin. At Panagarh in Paschim Bardhaman district, the temperature was 44.2 deg C, followed by Bankura 43.5 deg C. In Kolkata, the maximum temperature was 41.3 deg C, which was 5.7 deg C above normal. In the relatively cooler northern parts of the state, Balurghat and Malda recorded maximum temperatures of 41 deg C each. In Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the mercury, however, read 22.4 deg C and 25.2 deg C, respectively, the MeT office said. "Mainly dry westerly to northwesterly winds at lower levels continue to prevail over the region. Due to strong solar insolation, the heatwave condition is very likely to prevail over the dist

2024 can be the warmest year ever recorded warns IMD as heatwaves spread

May is anticipated to bring heat wave conditions to Central and North Western India, attributed partially to the ongoing El Nino phenomenon

LS polls: India's Silicon Valley to vote amid searing heat, water shortages

About 10 mn citizens will cast their ballot in Bengaluru, which is home to the country's $194 billion IT services industry and houses the biggest office of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. outside New York

Vegetable prices show mixed trends in Delhi despite heatwave rise

IMD warns heatwave to continue over east and peninsular India for next five days

Lok Sabha polls: Nitin Gadkari's faints at Maharashtra rally, blames heat

The Met Department has issued a heat wave alert in parts of Maharashtra for second half of the week

India faced double wrath of heatwave and water disasters in 2023: WMO

Asia remained the world's most disaster-hit region from weather, climate, and water-related hazards in 2023

Heatwave: Political parties focusing on evening meetings, small gatherings

With day temperatures in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts of Odisha hovering between 39 and 42 degrees Celsius, political parties are focusing more on evening meetings and small village gatherings while campaigning for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Malkangiri district under Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat recorded the highest temperature of 42 degrees Celsius recently. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more heatwaves in the next few days in the state. Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunj B Dhal has suggested that political parties and candidates undertake election campaigning with adequate measures to beat the heat. BJP candidate for Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat Balabhadra Majhi said, "I had prepared a chart for my campaigning soon after the declaration of the tickets but altered my campaigning itinerary due to the scorching temperature, focusing more on evening meetings and small village gatherings." Pradeep Majhi, BJD candidate for the Nabarangp

India sugar demand surges amid heat wave, elections; set to hit record high

But this year demand is above average as heat waves and election rallies boost consumption of ice-cream and soft drinks, said Avantika Saraogi, executive director at Balrampur Chini Mills

Lok Sabha polls: Can India hold elections when it is too hot to vote?

The world's largest democracy is only going to struggle more with this as the planet warms. It will have to overhaul its hulking electoral machinery to keep up.

Odisha declares summer vacation for schools as heatwave grips states

IMD predicts heatwave conditions in Odisha, Bengal, and Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh until April 26; possibility of light rainfall in eastern states

Bengal govt prepones vacation of state-run schools from Mon amid heatwave

The West Bengal government on Thursday preponed the summer vacation of state-run and aided schools from April 22 in view of the prevailing heatwave conditions. A notification issued by the School Education Department on Thursday said apart from pupils, the teaching and non-teaching staff of the schools will be on leave during the period but subject to the direction of election authorities concerned in view of ensuing Lok Sabha elections. "Considering the prevailing heatwave situation, the competent authority has decided to prepone the summer vacation in the schools under your administrative jurisdiction with effect from April 22 except for schools in hill areas of Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, wherein the existing academic schedule may continue until further order," the notice issued by School Education Secretary to the presidents of primary education and secondary boards said. Earlier in view of the ensuing elections and keeping in mind many schools in northern parts of Benga

Delhi records hottest day of year so far as temperature touches 39.1 deg C

Delhi's maximum temperature on Wednesday was four notches above the season's average, while it recorded a low of 17 degrees Celsius, three notches below the season's average, the data showed

Researchers warn of heat impact on outdoor workers, call for awareness

As the country braces for extreme heat in the April-June period with the temperatures already starting to rise, researchers have sounded the alarm over detrimental effects it can have on outdoor workers in farming, construction and other sectors. The India Meteorological Department recently said above-normal maximum temperatures were likely over most parts of the country in April-June this year, and the central and western peninsular parts are expected to face the worst impact. Above-normal heatwave days are likely over most parts of the plains, it said. Following the adverse weather warning, researchers are advocating for novel ways of working outdoors, including flexible hours and mandatory breaks, to help workers adapt to the effects of heat, made increasingly humid because of climate change. "Dry heat is relatively easier to handle. When the body heats up and we drink water, there is evaporation and the body cools down. However, in humid heat, evaporation reduces because of high