Delhi, Punjab on heatwave red alert by IMD. What does this imply?

For Sunday, May 19, the Indian Meteorological Department issued a heatwave "red alert" for the Northern states of the country, Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi. Not only this but it has also been said by the Indian Meteorological Department that the heatwave situations are likely here to stay for five more days from Sunday onwards.

Now, what seems to be worrisome is the fact that Chandigarh and Delhi have experienced temperatures going over and above 44°C. Here is all you need to know about the matter.

Understanding a heatwave alert

The website of IMD says that heat wave is actually a situation of air temperature which proves to  be fatal to human body when exposed. It is defined according to the temperature thresholds over a region in terms of actual temperature or its deviation from normal.

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Thus, a heatwave is actually determined in accordance with the degree of difference of a particular region from its usual temperatures. According to IMD, a heat wave is considered in case the maximum temperature of a station reaches 30°C or above in cases of hilly regions and 40°C or above in cases of plains. In cases of coastal regions, a heat wave is considered in case the maximum temperature departure is 37°C or more.

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  Now, for a meteorological sub-division it is important to note that temperatures like these must be recorded in a minimum of two stations for over two consecutive days. The declaration of heatwave is done on the second day. The month of May is actually the peak month for heatwaves in the country.

In case the prevalent temperature falls between 4.5°C to 6.4°C more than normal, it is categorized as a heatwave. However, a rise that goes higher than 6.4°C is deemed as a severe heatwave.  

Now, what exactly is a heatwave red alert?

A red alert in this sense indicate a warning for extreme heat. It suggests that a severe heatwave has been there fore more than two days, or the total number of heatwave days has actually been more than six days.

According to the IMD, in situations like these, there are strong chances of developing heat stroke or heat illness in all the ages. Therefore, it is important to take extreme care, especially for the vulnerable people, like infants, elderly, and the ones who are already going through chronic diseases.

The required precautions

There are a few steps that can be taken in order to lessen the impact of a heatwave. In order to do so, one must:

• Avoid going out often in the sun. One must specifically prefer to stay indoors between noon and 3 pm.
• Make use of an umbrella or hat in case you have to go outside in the sun. 
• One must try applying a damp cloth on the neck, face, limbs, and head, when exposed to the sun for some relief.
• Wear clothing that is comfortable and is light-colored, light-weight, and porous. Loose cotton clothing is always a fit choice for such conditions.

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