India is experiencing an intense heatwave with temperatures reaching over 42°C in 36 cities across the country on Monday. The India Meteorological Department warned of heatwave-like conditions in parts of east India over the next four days and the northwest region for the next two days, adding that above-normal temperatures and heatwave conditions are expected in most parts of India until the end of May. Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and Coastal Andhra Pradesh have suffered the effects of the prolonged heat. Climate scientists have argued that the frequency of the conditions is due to the Indian government’s fixed definition of a heatwave and an increase in weather patterns associated with unusually high temperatures.
