NEW DELHI: There is likely to be little respite from the scorching heat in parts of the country anytime soon with the weather office forecasting a week-long stagnation in the advance of the southwest monsoon because of the weakening of the monsoon circulation pattern.
“As a consequence, rainfall activity is very likely to reduce over the interior parts of the south peninsula, central and eastern parts of India. However, the enhanced rainfall activity over the northeastern states is likely to continue during the next three days,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
The whole of north India is witnessing unusual dusty sky conditions at present. The IMD said dust-raising winds with speeds of 25-55 kmph are likely to prevail over parts of northwest India.
Skymet Weather, a private weather forecaster, said the dusty sky conditions were triggered by dust being blown in from West Asian countries, Pakistan and Rajasthan towards northwest India.
“At present, heatwave conditions are prevailing over Rajasthan and the adjoining boundary of Pakistan. The temperature of Balochistan region is soaring and settling near the 50-degree mark, whereas parts of Rajasthan are experiencing an above 45-degree Celsius maximum. Such high temperatures are due to the absence of rain over the region,” it said.
Strong winds have been blowing at a speed of 50 kmph in Rajasthan and at 40 kmph in Delhi- NCR. The dust is settling in the upper atmosphere, at approximately 7,000-15,000 feet above ground level.
The lack of moisture has been preventing the dust from settling in the lower levels of the atmosphere, which is why it has enveloped parts of Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, apart from Rajasthan, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.
As the dust has layered the atmosphere, it is restricting the escape of long-wave radiation, resulting in rising night temperatures in parts of northwest India. “Delhi’s minimum temperature rose by 5-6 degrees in the last 24 hours. Other parts of Northwest India recorded minimum temperatures above 3-4 degrees, paving way for warm night conditions to prevail over the region,” said Skymet.