By India Today News Desk: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that parts of the country, including Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, may experience heatwave conditions over the next three to four days.

According to the weather department, heatwave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of Gangetic West Bengal until April 17, north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha until April 15 and Bihar from April 15 to April 17.

At present, the maximum temperatures in central and north peninsular India are hovering between 40 to 42 degrees Celsius.

HEATWAVE ALERT

As parts of the country reel under heatwave conditions, Odisha on Thursday recorded the day temperature at 43.5 degrees Celsius, the highest this month. “Baripada recorded 43.5 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature recorded in Odisha this month,” said Umashankar Das, senior scientist at IMD, reported ANI.

A heatwave warning has been issued in Odisha for April 14 and 15, predicting that the said weather conditions may continue over the next 3 days. Weather officials have advised citizens to take precautionary measures.

Similarly, heatwave-like conditions are prevailing in major parts of Jharkhand with the mercury crossing the 40-degree Celsius mark, said a weather official, reported PTI. Jamshedpur and Daltonganj sizzled at 41.7 degrees Celsius, the highest in the state on April 13, while Ranchi recorded 38.2 degrees Celsius, 2.3 degrees above normal.

Since no significant synoptic conditions are prevailing, the maximum temperature may rise by two to three degrees Celsius from the existing temperature in the next 48 hours, he said.

Above normal maximum temperature is likely to be observed over most parts of the state till April 20, hovering between 37 and 43 degrees Celsius.

According to IMD, in West Bengal, heat wave conditions will persist 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.

“Due to the intense heat, a decision has been taken to reschedule the summer vacations in West Bengal. It will now start from May 2. The decision was taken on the insistence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” an official told PTI.

In 2023, India experienced its hottest February since record-keeping began in 1901. However, above-normal rainfall in March kept temperatures in check.

(With inputs from Agencies)