Patna: The ongoing heatwave conditions intensified across Bihar on Thursday, with Sheikhpura officially entering heatwave territory as temperatures breached 40 degrees C at 14 locations, including the capital, Patna. According to the Patna Meteorological Centre, Dehri remained the hottest spot, scorching at 43.6C with a relative humidity of just 20%, while Gaya followed closely at 43.1 degrees C.
The oppressive heat stretched over south-central and south-west parts of the state, where Patna simmered at 40.5 degrees C, Chhapra at 40.4 degrees C, and Buxar at 42 degrees C. Aurangabad too recorded a punishing 42 degrees C, while Sheikhpura stood at 41.6 degrees C. Even areas in northern Bihar, including Gopalganj (40.9 degrees C) and Valmiki Nagar (40.2 degrees C), were not spared, indicating the state-wide intensity of the current heatwave spell.
Amid the relentless heat, the Patna Meteorological Centre has issued a heatwave warning for Sheikhpura and Banka districts, while also forecasting hot and humid conditions for the south-west and south-central parts of the state over the next three days.
In a flip side to the weather narrative, an orange alert has been sounded for thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds at a few places in northern and eastern Bihar, expected over the same three-day period. Following this, a yellow alert has been issued for pre-monsoon thundershowers likely at many places across the state in the subsequent three days.
Despite the severe heat, no significant change in maximum temperatures is anticipated over the next 72 hours, though a slight dip of 2–3C is predicted thereafter, offering brief respite from the intense conditions.
