Explained: Why Is It So Hot In Delhi And What You Should Do To Stay Safe Newton

Delhi is currently experiencing an intense heatwave, with temperatures forecasted to reach a staggering 46 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in the capital was recorded at 29.2 degrees Celsius, which is 2.6 degrees above the normal. Relative humidity was measured at 48 per cent at 8:30 am today. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted mainly clear skies with strong surface winds, compounding the severe heatwave conditions.

But why is it so hot in the national capital?

The extreme heat in Delhi is part of a broader heatwave affecting large parts of northern and central India. On Sunday, temperatures soared to an unprecedented 50 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan's Phalodi. This is the highest temperature recorded in India since June 2019, when Churu, another city in Rajasthan, hit 50.8 degrees Celsius.

Extreme Heat Across North India 

This heatwave is not just confined to the northern plains but has also impacted the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh. During the sixth phase of the ongoing general elections, voters in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Delhi faced extreme heat, with temperatures in the capital exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in several locations. Polling booths in many areas lacked adequate facilities like water, coolers, and chairs, leading to voters fainting due to the harsh conditions.

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Several cities across India reported record-breaking temperatures recently. In West Bengal's Cooch Behar, the temperature reached 40.5 degrees Celsius, while Assam's Silchar hit 40 degrees, and Arunachal Pradesh's Itanagar recorded 40.5 degrees Celsius. These extreme temperatures have been widespread, with at least 17 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh recording temperatures of 45 degrees Celsius or higher.

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Rajasthan has been particularly affected, with Barmer reaching 48.8 degrees Celsius, Jaisalmer 48 degrees, and Bikaner 47.2 degrees. The state's disaster management department has directed district collectors to provide necessary relief to people, animals, and birds. The extreme heat is expected to persist in Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra until the end of May, with severe conditions also affecting the hills of Himachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya.

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Haryana and Punjab are also under severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures soaring above normal limits. In Haryana, Mahendragarh recorded 47 degrees Celsius, while Rohtak and Hisar reported 46.7 and 46 degrees, respectively. Similarly, Punjab's Amritsar reached 45.2 degrees, and Ludhiana 44.8 degrees. Chandigarh, the common capital of both states, saw temperatures of 44.5 degrees Celsius. The heatwave is expected to continue in these regions until May 29.

The IMD has issued a 'red' warning for several regions, including Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, west Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. This indicates a very high likelihood of heat illness and heatstroke across all age groups. The IMD also noted that warm night conditions will exacerbate heat stress in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan over the next four days. High night temperatures are especially dangerous as they prevent the body from cooling down, an issue exacerbated by the urban heat island effect, where cities remain significantly hotter than their rural surroundings.

Heat Multiplier Effect

Akash Vashishtha, founder-secretary of the Society for Protection of Environment and Biodiversity, in an interview with news agency PTI, explained that urban areas like Delhi-NCR become heat chambers due to land and surface concretisation, leading to a heat multiplier effect. The urban heat island effect traps heat in the lower atmosphere, significantly raising ambient temperatures. To mitigate this, Mr Vashishtha said there is a need to keep ground surfaces vegetated to absorb solar radiation and reduce heat reflection.

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