Record heat wave hits Rajasthan; Barmer at highest early April temperature

Jaipur: The state experienced intensified heat wave conditions on Sunday, with most locations recording maximum temperatures approximately 5 degrees above normal levels. Barmer documented its highest temperature for early April, reaching 45.6 degrees Celsius. According to meteorological records, this surpassed the previous first-week-of-April record of 45.2 degrees Celsius set in 1998.

The escalating temperatures in western Rajasthan led to severe water shortages in various Barmer settlements. Regarding the situation, Radhey Shyam Sharma, Director of the Met office in Jaipur, stated, "The maximum temperature of 45.6 in Barmer is the hottest ever maximum temperature recorded in the first week of April. Usually, Barmer sees a maximum temperature up to 49.0 degrees Celsius, but that is seen during the last week of April. It never happened in the first week of April itself."

"Usually during the first week of April, the maximum temperature in Barmer is around 38.0 to 39.0 degrees Celsius, but what is recorded on Sunday is a much higher maximum temperature," Sharma added.

According to the Jaipur Met office, an active anti-cyclonic circulation on Sunday resulted in severe heat wave conditions throughout the state. Jaipur residents experienced an unusually warm morning with a 23.3 degrees Celsius minimum temperature. The city recorded its first maximum temperature above 40.0 degrees this season, reaching 40.7 degrees Celsius, approximately 4.4 degrees above normal. Streets remained deserted during afternoon hours as residents stayed indoors.

Other cities also recorded high temperatures: Jaisalmer at 45.0 degrees Celsius, Bikaner 43.3, Chittorgarh 43.2, Jodhpur 43.0, Churu 42.2, Jalore 42.0, Sriganganagar 41.7, Bhilwara 41.6, Pilani and Phalodi 41.0 each, Udaipur 40.9, Ajmer 40.8, and Sirohi at 40.0 degrees Celsius.

The persistent heat wave has triggered drinking water shortages across several districts, including Dausa, Alwar, Bharatpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jalore, and Sirohi. The Met office forecasts further intensification of heat wave conditions across the state in the upcoming days.