Gurgaon’s maximum temperature nears 45°C, heat spell here to stay

Gurgaon: Daytime temperatures crossed 44 degrees Celsius in parts of the city on Tuesday, prompting IMD to issue an orange alert for the next four days. The department has warned of heat to severe heatwave conditions across Haryana, including Gurgaon, till May 25 under the influence of dry and hot surface winds.

The state’s average maximum temperature rose by 0.9 degrees Celsius and remained above normal by 4.4 degrees Celsius. Rohtak logged the highest temperature at 46.9 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile in Gurgaon, NorthCap University recorded a maximum temperature of 44.6 degrees Celsius, the highest among all monitored stations and two degrees higher from 42.7 degrees Celsius on the previous day. At Gurgaon KVK, the mercury settled at 43.4 degrees Celsius, up from 42.3 degrees Celsius, while the Gurgaon AWS station recorded 43.2 degrees Celsius, up from 41.9 degrees Celsius a day earlier.

Night temperatures rose as well. The city’s minimum temperature was recorded at 27 degrees Celsius, up from 23.5 degrees Celsius and three notches above the seasonal normal. At Gurgaon KVK, the minimum temperature stood at 28.1 degrees Celsius, a steep rise from 25.6 degrees Celsius. At NorthCap University, the minimum temperature was recorded at 26.9 degrees Celsius, marginally lower than 27.2 degrees Celsius the previous day.

“The heat was unbearable. I was out for a delivery, and I felt drained within minutes. The roads felt like they were burning, and even a short ride became exhausting. But I don’t have any option,” said Subodh Kumar, who works for a quick-commerce platform.

IMD officials have cautioned that the current weather pattern is expected to intensify. “Strong winds with speeds of 20-30 kmph, rising up to 40 kmph, are likely to continue across Haryana until May 25, aggravating heat stress conditions,” IMD said.

The department said multiple atmospheric systems are influencing the region but failing to bring any relief in terms of rainfall. A western disturbance persists as a cyclonic circulation over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu region at lower tropospheric levels, accompanied by a trough in the middle tropospheric westerlies. In addition, an upper air cyclonic circulation lies over east Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas.

“Sustained heating and clear-sky conditions are allowing maximum solar radiation to reach the surface. During the next five days, maximum temperatures over southern and western Haryana are likely to be in the range of 45-47 degrees Celsius,” the IMD official said.

According to the IMD, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in the plains and shows a departure of 4.5 degrees Celsius to 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal. A severe heatwave is declared when the departure exceeds 6.4 degrees Celsius above normal or when absolute temperatures cross 45 degrees Celsius, and it is a severe heatwave when it surpasses 47 degrees Celsius.