Udaipur : Northwest India experienced a severe heatwave last week, with the state of Rajasthan bearing the brunt of the heatwave. Currently, eight of the ten hottest cities in the country are in the state of Rajasthan, with Phalodi recording a staggering 49 degrees Celsius, just shy of 50 degrees Celsius.
There are several possible reasons for this unusual warmth. Hot and dry westerly winds blow across the region from areas such as Sindh, Balochistan and the Thar Desert. These winds pass through areas where the temperature reaches 50 degrees Celsius, further increasing the heat, such as Yakubadad in Pakistan, where temperatures reach 50 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, lack of pre-monsoon activities and lack of clear skies have led to excessive rise in temperature. Pre-monsoon showers in April and May usually help regulate temperatures, but northwest India has had no significant rainfall over the past week.
Although no pre-monsoon rains are forecast, relief is expected from May 28 due to a change in wind direction. Warm westerly winds are expected to give way to southwesterly winds and bring in cold air from the Arabian Sea. Although temperatures will not drop dramatically and are expected to remain above 40 degrees Celsius, the change is expected to provide significant relief from the current harsh conditions.
From now on, the southwest monsoon is expected to reach Kerala by June 1. However, Rajasthan will have to wait for a while. The monsoon usually reaches southeast Rajasthan on June 25 and lasts until July 8 to cover the entire state. This means Rajasthan is expected to endure hot weather for at least the next 20 days, with only a brief respite from monsoon rains. The actual date doesn’t come until the end of June, when the monsoon officially arrives.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.