New Delhi, March 30 : The heatwave is set to grip Delhi-NCR starting Wednesday, as the maximum temperature is likely to settle around 40 degrees Celsius, as per India Meteorological Department. In its bulletin, IMD said the same conditions were likely to prevail on Thursday as well, as it predicted “strong surface winds” during daytime on Friday. As per the weather department, “During the heatwave conditions in NCR, the temperatures in Delhi and surrounding areas is likely to increase to 40 degrees Celsius or more”. Parts of Delhi reeled under severe heatwave conditions on Tuesday and eight weather stations in Delhi recorded their maximum temperature above 40 degrees Celsius, with the mercury at Narela, Pitampura and the Sports Complex station crossing the 41-degree mark. IMD officials said a prolonged dry spell has led to the “severe” hot weather conditions in northwest India. Earlier, talking about the prevailing situation, IMD Director General M Mohapatra said: “One of the reasons for very high temperatures is the rain deficit. But the wind direction over north India is presently also from the direction of South Pakistan and adjoining Rajasthan. These are very hot and dry regions.” For the plains, a “heatwave” is declared when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius, and at least 4.5 notches above normal. The MeT forecast “heatwave to severe heatwave conditions in most parts very likely over West Rajasthan; at some parts over East Rajasthan & West Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday and Wednesday; and heat wave conditions in isolated pockets over these areas from Thursday to Saturday”. Temperatures have been soaring in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, the Gangetic Plains, central Madhya Pradesh, northern Maharashtra, Marathwada, Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, western Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan over the past few days. The IMD’s latest heatwave alert has warned that these states were unlikely to get any respite from high temperatures till Friday. JA ING