IMD issues heatwave warning: AP, Bihar, Gujarat, parts of Maharashtra, MP and Odisha sizzle as max temperature soars 46C

livemint.com:

heatwave days, with certain regions facing over 20 days of scorching conditions. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Marathwada, Odisha and Vidharba are predicted to record more heatwave days, some even more than 20 days of the month. The intense heat poses risks to power grids and may lead to water shortages in various parts of the country, the weather department has warned, PTI reported.

Furthermore, the agricultural sector, heavily reliant on the monsoon, faces uncertainties as La Nina conditions are anticipated later in the year. A searing heatwave has enveloped parts of India, with temperatures soaring as high as 46 degrees Celsius in some areas on April 20. This relentless heatwave marks the second spell this month, affecting regions of Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal.

Previously, the first spell had blistered Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. The IMD reports that intense heatwave to severe heatwave conditions have been observed in Chhattisgarh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha, throughout the day. On April 20, temperatures soared seven to eight degrees above normal in various places.

Baripada and Boudh in Odisha recorded a scorching 45.2 degrees Celsius, while Midnapore and Bankura in West Bengal sizzled at 44.5 and 44.6 degrees Celsius respectively. Similarly, Daltonganj and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand saw temperatures rise to 43.6 and 43.5 degrees Celsius respectively, with Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh hitting 43 degrees Celsius. The IMD notes that a heatwave is officially recognised when temperatures reach at least 40 degrees Celsius in plains, 37 degrees in coastal areas, and 30 degrees in hilly regions, with a departure from normal