The severe heat wave engulfing most of India continues unabated despite the first cyclone of the season slamming ashore in the Bay of Bengal, killing at least 18 people and leaving over 200 families missing after a series of mudslides in Sri Lanka.

 

NASA's AIRS instrument on the Aqua satellite was able to capture the image of Tropical Cyclone 01B, now called Cyclone Roanu, as it raced into the Northern Indian Ocean on Wednesday, May 18. As Roanu continued its trek toward India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, it wrecked havoc on Sri Lanka.

 

With waves of as high as 14 feet, the cyclone produced deadly flooding and mudslides, forcing the evacuation of over 137,000 people to higher ground. Rainfall averaged 300 millimeters (12 inches) or higher across much of the country, while in India, the heaviest rainfall has slammed Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh reports Accu-Weather.com

 

The track of the storm on India's eastern coast will do nothing to lessen the heat that is continuing to set records in the northwestern part of the country. High temperatures are typical in this part of India during April and May, but this year has been exceptionally hot.

 

Historic high temperature set

Phalodi, a small city in the state of Rajasthan has the dubious honor of having the highest temperature ever recorded in India, with the mercury rising to a sizzling 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday, reports the Times of India. The temperature was verified by the India Meteorological Department.

 

The weather agency has issued a “severe heat wave warning” that will run through Sunday for a huge swath of the country. Temperatures are expected to remain above normal at least through May 27. Actually, the intense heat being seen the last couple of days in the north and western parts of India are partially due to the cyclone. Air that is sinking and warming on the west side of cyclone Roanu gave the thermometers an extra boost, raising the temperatures. (Digital Journal)