The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a red alert for Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region till May 28 amid intensifying heatwave conditions.
A yellow alert for thundershowers and gusty winds has also been issued for May 30.
According to the IMD, rainfall activity remained isolated with negligible intensity across Vidarbha over the last 24 hours. Maximum and minimum temperatures continued to remain significantly above normal across the region.
Brahmapuri recorded the highest maximum temperature at 47.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Nagpur at 46.5 degrees Celsius. Washim registered the lowest minimum temperature at 27.4 degrees Celsius.
Several districts affected by heatwave
Districts including Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Brahmapuri, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur and Wardha are currently experiencing heatwave conditions.
The IMD said heatwave conditions were recorded at eight stations across Vidarbha, while severe heatwave conditions were reported at one station. Warm night conditions were also recorded in Wardha.
Red alert for severe heatwave conditions
Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Amravati have been placed under red alert, with the IMD warning that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are very likely at many places over the next few days.
The weather agency added that maximum temperatures across Vidarbha ranged between 41.7 degrees Celsius and 47.6 degrees Celsius, while minimum temperatures ranged from 27.4 degrees Celsius to 32.5 degrees Celsius, both remaining above normal.
Highest temperatures recorded in Vidarbha
Brahmapuri – 47.6 degrees Celsius
Nagpur – 46.5 degrees Celsius
Bhandara – 46.4 degrees Celsius
Gadchiroli – 46.4 degrees Celsius
Wardha – 46.0 degrees Celsius
Chandrapur – 46.0 degrees Celsius
Akola – 45.4 degrees Celsius
Amravati – 45.0 degrees Celsius
Weather systems influencing conditions
The IMD said a trough extending from the east-central Bay of Bengal to the southeast Arabian Sea persists across the southwest Bay of Bengal, Gulf of Mannar, south Tamil Nadu coast and adjoining Comorin area between 3.1 km and 5.8 km above mean sea level.
It also noted that a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from May 28.