New Delhi: On Sunday, Delhi residents endured a particularly humid night with a humidity level of 70%, while Jammu has been experiencing a heatwave for the past three days, resulting in extreme temperatures.
By 5:30 a.m. on Monday in Delhi, the temperature had reached 28.6°C, but because of the high humidity, it actually felt more like 32°C, says the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Due to the severe conditions, residents found it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Rohan Sharma, a shopkeeper in Delhi, said that he cannot step outside or stay indoors at any time without sweating continually.
Many districts in Jammu experienced high temperatures, with some areas recording temperatures above 40°C. IMD has said that the temperature in Jammu rose to 43°C on Sunday, indicating that a heatwave has continued for the third straight day. When the humidity dropped to 25%, it made the hot weather even worse, and warnings were sent to people like the elderly and children.
IMD explained that the cold front approaching northwest India from the west prevented heat from moving away from Jammu while simultaneously increasing moisture levels in Delhi. The official from the IMD noted that higher temperatures in Jammu are blown by dry winds, and the warmer air in Delhi is due to humidity coming from the Bay of Bengal. We expect the same kind of weather to persist until the middle of the week.
Many X users from Delhi complained on social media about not being able to sleep and having constant power cuts. Reports from Jammu show more people visiting hospitals because of heat-related conditions. Officials asked residents to drink enough water and not to go outside at the hottest moments.
The difference in weather across India points to the country’s various climate issues. In Delhi, high humidity and in Jammu, dry heat are being dealt with by officials, who want better city planning to lessen the effects of such weather in the future.