Heatwave back in Bihar's 4 districts, Nawada hottest

PATNA: The summer scorcher is back with northward movement in the mercury column, leading to return of heatwave conditions in the state. Heatwave was declared at four places in Banka, Sheikhpura, Khagaria and Purnia districts in the state on Monday.
It is almost after a fortnight that heatwave has been declared anywhere in the state. As per the norms of India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave condition is said to prevail at a place when the normal temperature is 40 degrees C and above and the actual temperature continues to be 4.5 notches above the respective normal for two consecutive days.
Nawada was the hottest place in the state with the maximum or daytime temperature at 41.5 degrees C, followed by Aurangabad (41.4 degrees C) and Gaya (41.2 degrees C).
The maximum temperature was recorded above 40 degrees C at all three automatic weather stations (AWS) in Patna district on Monday afternoon with the highest temperature recorded above 40 degrees C with the corresponding readings at Airport, Danapur and Bypass road at 41.7, 41.5 and 41.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The IMD stated in its evening bulletin that the maximum temperature was appreciably above normal (3.1 degrees C- 5.0 degrees C) at many places in Bihar.
Any respite from the surging mercury is unlikely over the next few days as Patna Meteorological Centre has predicted maximum temperature in the range of 40-42 degrees C at majority of places in the state till May 12.
IMD also stated that maximum temperature is likely to increase by three to five notches over most parts of the state over the next five days. "Maximum temperature is likely to increase by two to three notches over the next five days," said Neha Kumari, an official at Patna centre.
The surging mercury is further getting aggravated with hot westerly winds, called 'looh' in common parlance. Neha said westerly winds are likely to blow at an average speed of 10-15kmph gusting up to 20-30kmph over the next three days.