Slight Break From Deadly India Heat Wave

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

May 30,2015; 9:08PM,EDT

 

 

A heat wave that has already claimed more than 1,400 lives this month will continue into this coming week across parts of central and northern India.
However, some relief is in store for northwestern India as a trough of low pressure provides some cooling thunderstorms and increased clouds through the middle of the week.
The core of the heat has been centered from Pakistan eastward across northwest and north-central India, including New Delhi.

The temperature has reached or passed 43 degrees Celsius (109 F) in New Delhi for ten straight days, with little relief at night. Temperatures peaked at 46 degrees C (115 F) on Tuesday.
While much of India suffers through dry and hot weather in the weeks leading up to the arrival of monsoonal rain each year, the magnitude and duration of the heat this year has resulted in life-threatening conditions for millions of people.
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While a ridge of high pressure over northeastern India will continue to result in largely dry weather with extreme heat through the coming week, a trough of low pressure developing over Pakistan will bring a few days of relief to northwestern India.
This is not expected to be a long-term change in the pattern, but rather a brief break from the extreme conditions.
Temperatures will begin to lower on Monday, with highs expected to fall by just a few degrees. The trend will continue into the middle of the week as highs in northwestern India are expected to be 35-46 C (95-105 F). This is about 6-8 degrees C (10-15 degrees F) cooler than during the past week.
The trough will also bring moisture northward from the Arabian Sea, sparking a few rounds of thunderstorms across the region providing some additional relief from the heat, along with welcome rainfall.
While the heat may back off slightly this week, no widespread relief is expected until mid- to late June when monsoon rains will begin to spread into north-central India. Once this trough exits the region, temperatures may soar once again.
The monsoon, however, is expected to yield below-normal rainfall across northern India this year, which will likely lead to further heat waves throughout the summer months.
Contributions by Meteorologist Adam Douty