India is baking as temperatures are primed to jump to 45 degrees Celsius today. Records are tumbling this April, but relief in the form of rain is expected by Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

India on fire: Temp to jump to 45 degrees Celsius today. Which states will sizzle?

India is witnessing a record heatwave with temperatures primed to jump to 45 degrees Celsius today. Find out when the Western Disturbance will finally bring rain and relief to the northern plains.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Temperatures are primed to jump to 45 degrees Celsius today.
  • IMD issued severe heatwave alert for North and East India.
  • Western Disturbance is expected to bring rain relief by Tuesday.

The heat is no longer just a seasonal guest as the mercury is primed to jump to a staggering 45 degrees Celsius across several stations in North India today.

From the scorched plains of Rajasthan to the humid corridors of Odisha, the land is gasping under a record-breaking April sky.

WHY IS INDIA FACING SUCH EXTREME HEAT IN APRIL?

A massive high-pressure system has trapped hot air over the northern plains, creating a literal pressure cooker effect.

This phenomenon is exacerbated by the absence of moisture, allowing solar radiation to bake the Earth without any natural cooling from the clouds.

A satellite map captures the intense heat zones across the Indian subcontinent today. (Photo: X/@navdeepdahiya55)

The lack of pre-monsoon showers has left the soil bone-dry and unable to absorb the rising heat.

In this state, the atmosphere becomes a feedback loop where the hot ground further warms the air above it.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST HOTSPOTS IN THE COUNTRY TODAY?

Uttar Pradesh and West Rajasthan have emerged as the primary victims of this climate anomaly.

Mercury levels in cities like Prayagraj and Barmer are hovering dangerously close to the 48 degrees Celsius mark today.

Dry winds and a high pressure system have turned the plains into a furnace. (Photo: X/@navdeepdahiya55)

In the east, states like Jharkhand and West Bengal are battling a lethal combination of high heat and stifling humidity.

This creates a high heat index, which is a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.

WHEN WILL THE WESTERN DISTURBANCE BRING RELIEF?

A glimmer of hope is visible in the form of an approaching Western Disturbance.

These are moist winds originating from the Mediterranean Sea that travel across thousands of miles to bring rain to India.

By April 28, these winds are expected to collide with the heat over the plains.

This interaction will likely trigger dust storms and light rain, providing a much-needed reprieve from the current inferno.

- Ends