Gurgaon swelters as temperatures stay high, change likely from Tuesday

Gurgaon: Heat in Gurgaon refused to abate on Sunday, with the thermometer high settling at 40.7 degrees Celsius — a marginal drop from 41 degrees a day earlier but still bad enough to keep people indoors during daytime.

Though no heatwave conditions were observed — data did not specify how much the maximum temperature departed from normal for this time of year — a combination of daytime and night-time highs has compounded discomfort for residents.

At NorthCap University, the maximum temperature stood at 41.8 degrees Celsius, down from the previous day’s 42.2 degrees.

In Haryana, Narnaul was the hottest place, with mercury soaring to 44.2 degrees Celsius, followed by neighbouring Bopani in Faridabad at 44 degrees.

India Meteorological Department has indicated some respite is in sight. A weather change is expected from Tuesday, with thunderstorms and light rainfall forecast across parts of Haryana, including the city. IMD said such conditions are typical during the pre-monsoon transition but can intensify due to prevailing atmospheric systems.

IMD attributed the expected shift to a western disturbance, currently seen as a trough in the middle tropospheric westerlies, and an upper air cyclonic circulation over east Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas, both likely to influence weather patterns in north India over coming days.

The minimum temperature rose to 25.9 degrees Celsius at the KVK station. At NorthCap University, it was 26.4 degrees.

Saturday recorded the highest night-time temperature of the season at 29 degrees Celsius — a five-degree rise over 24 hours and 7.7 notches above normal. This was recorded at the Gurgaon station, data for which was unavailable on Sunday.

The unusually warm night reflected a broader trend across Haryana, where minimum temperatures remained significantly above normal at most stations, compounding heatwave-like conditions through the day.

IMD said isolated pockets may experience heatwave and warm night conditions on Monday.

“Under the combined influence of these systems, light rainfall at isolated to scattered places accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds with speeds reaching 30-40 kmph is likely over several parts of Haryana between April 27 and May 2,” IMD said.

For Haryana, light rain is expected at isolated places on Monday, spreading further on Tuesday, with sporadic rain thereafter. In Gurgaon, thunderstorm and lightning activity with gusty winds of 40-50 kmph is likely at isolated locations between Tuesday and Thursday, and again next weekend. A gradual dip of 2-4 degrees Celsius in maximum temperature is likely after Tuesday, offering further respite.

IMD classifies a heatwave when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius in plains and is 4.5-6.4 degrees above normal, or crosses 45 degrees irrespective of normal. A warm night is declared when the minimum temperature is 4.5-6.4 degrees above normal, subject to it being at least 24 degrees Celsius. Both these parameters can be calculated only if a normal range is provided.