Written by Nihal Singh Dhingra, a grade 9 student.

What is a heatwave?

A heatwave is a prolonged period of extremely high temperatures or hot weather. It occurs when a system of high atmospheric pressure moves into an area and lasts two or more days.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, no perfect or standardized definition of a heatwave exists. They prefer to describe it as a period of 5 consecutive days or more of temperature exceeding the daily maximum by 5 degrees Celsius or more.

The hottest heatwave that was ever was recorded was in California’s  Death Valley when the temperature soared to  57 degrees Celsius. While, India experienced its hottest heatwave in the year 2019 from mid-May to mid-June, with temperature surpassing 50 degrees Celsius.

A normal heatwave lasts a minimum of four days but can exceed 7-9 days. The longest heatwave ever recorded was from 18 – 31 May 2015, which struck India.

The ongoing heatwave India, however, is quite different than usual ones. The Northern part of the subcontinent has been experiencing supplementary pre-monsoon rains. The rains, along with the super cyclone Amphan, are the apparent causes of the heatwave in North India. The heatwave has expanded over Rajasthan, New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and even some parts of Maharashtra.

On Tuesday, 26 May 2020, Churu district in Rajasthan recorded a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius. New Delhi experienced a temperature of 47 degrees Celsius and 26 May 2020 was the hottest day in the month of May for the National Capital in the last 18 years.

Even though these heatwaves happen occasionally, they have resulted in the deaths of thousands of people. They are one of the many aspects of Global Warming. Each one of us, as responsible individuals, should try to reduce our carbon footprint, which will collectively help Mother Nature.

Written by Nihal Singh Dhingra, a grade 9 student.

Want to write for I Kid You Not? We publish children’s writing.
Reach out at: ikidyounott@yahoo.com