India: Dust storms kill at least 26 people as dangerous heat wave continues

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Deadly dust storms swept across Uttar Pradesh Thursday night, resulting in at least 26 deaths and injuring more than 50 others.

The storms also destroyed homes, knocked down trees and caused power outages, according to Times of India.

While most areas will remain dry and hot, any thunderstorms that do form across northern India in the coming days will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail and dust storms.

A commuter walks past an uprooted tree from Sunday's sudden storm in New Delhi, India, Monday, May 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

With monsoon rains still several weeks away, intense heat will maintain a firm grip on northern India as well as neighboring Pakistan into the middle of June.

The heat began to build across central and northern India during mid- to late May and peaked last week with the hottest days of the year so far in many locations.

Thursday, May 30, was the hottest day of 2019 in New Delhi as the temperature soared to 46.8 C (116 F) at the capital city's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Temperatures remained dangerously high in New Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) in recent days with daily high temperatures of 42-44 C (108-112 F).

The heat is expected to peak once again this weekend and early next week as temperatures climb to near-record highs in New Delhi.

The highest temperature ever reported in the city at Safdarjung Airport is 47.2 C (117 F), while the record at the nearby international airport sits at 48.4 C (119.1 F).

Temperatures may near or even reach these records on Sunday and Monday as sweltering conditions grip the NCR.

Elsewhere, widespread high temperatures of 42-47 C (108-116 F) will persist across northern India and Pakistan into early next week. Temperatures can reach 50 C (122 F) in the hottest locations.

The city of Churu endured such heat from June 1 to June 3 as temperatures reached or exceeded 49 C (120 F) each day. Similar conditions may be repeated in the city from Saturday into Monday.

Other locations that will endure daily dangerous heat include Hyderabad, Nagpur, Patna, Indore and Lucknow.

Farther west, the temperature rose to a blistering high of 51.1 C (124 F) in Jacobabad, Pakistan, on Saturday and Sunday before lowering to around 49 C (120 F) from Monday to Thursday.

Boys play in a water canal to cool off on a hot summer day in Jammu, India, Tuesday, May 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

More dangerous heat is expected in Jacobabad and surrounding locations into next week as temperatures may climb back above 50 C (122 F).

Actual temperatures will not be as extreme in Karachi, with daily high temperatures of 36-39 C (97-102 F) expected on most days this week. Sweltering humidity, however, will create dangerously higher AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures.

Unfortunately, this heat is not expected to break any time soon, as dry weather prevails and monsoon rainfall remains far away for northern India and Pakistan.

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AccuWeather meteorologists are predicting a near-normal monsoon for the country as a whole; however, northwestern India and Pakistan are forecast to endure a drier-than-normal season, with the arrival of rainfall delayed a week or more.

Monsoon rainfall typically spreads over northwestern India, including the NCR, during mid- to late June.

Residents are reminded to take the necessary precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses as the hot weather may hold firm through the entire month of June.

Wear light clothing, drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous activities during the midday and afternoon hours, which are the hottest times of the day. Worsening air quality can add to healthconcerns.

Warm nights will make this heat wave even more dangerous, as homes and businesses without air conditioning will be unable to adequately cool before temperatures climb rapidly during the morning and midday hours.

The elderly and children are more prone to heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke and heat exhaustion during long-duration heat waves such as this.

India endures lengthy heat waves each year prior to the arrival of monsoon rainfall. More than 6,000 heat-related deaths have been reported in India since 2010, according to the Times of India.

Download the free AccuWeather app to get precise temperature forecasts for your community.