New Delhi: The city experienced another intense spell of heatwave on Wednesday, with several areas recording temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius. However, the capital may finally get some respite from Friday onwards, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Current Heatwave Conditions
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Thursday, forecasting light rain and thunderstorms. Despite this, temperatures are expected to remain high, hovering between 43 and 44 degrees Celsius, offering little immediate relief. A more noticeable dip in temperature is likely on Friday, when the maximum may drop significantly.
On Wednesday, the base station at Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 44.3 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, while the minimum settled at 26.2 degrees Celsius. The hottest area in the city was the Kamla Nehru Ridge in north Delhi, which recorded 45.6 degrees Celsius. Other notable readings included Ayanagar at 45.4 degrees Celsius and Lodhi Road at 44.6 degrees Celsius, all classified as heatwave zones.
Previous Heatwave Spells
Delhi has witnessed two spells of heatwaves this summer. Parts of the city endured three consecutive heatwave days from April 23 to 25. Safdarjung recorded a single heatwave day on April 25 when the mercury climbed to 42.8 degrees Celsius. Additionally, some areas experienced a four-day heatwave from May 18 to 21, though Safdarjung only saw one such day on May 19, with temperatures reaching 45.1 degrees Celsius.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The Met department expects very strong winds, gusting up to 70 kmph, towards late Thursday evening. On Friday, the maximum temperature is likely to hover around 35-37 degrees Celsius. An orange alert has been issued for light rain and thunderstorms, with winds potentially gusting up to 80 kmph.
According to the IMD, "A fresh western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from May 28. No large change in maximum temperatures is expected during the next 24 hours, but a fall of 6-8 degrees Celsius is likely during the subsequent three days, followed by a rise of 4-6 degrees Celsius thereafter." The Air Quality Index (AQI) has improved to a moderate level with a reading of 190, compared to 252 a day earlier.
Additional Information
Residents can check updates on gold and silver rates, bank and public holidays, Delhi AQI, weather, and fuel prices through official sources. The author, Kushagra Dixit, covers environmental issues, wildlife conservation, climate change, agriculture, human rights, and scientific research, with investigative reports on river contamination, air pollution, and urban waste.
