Mercury to touch 43°C on weekend
NEW DELHI: With the western disturbance dissipating after the thunderstorm in Delhi on Sunday, the day temperature is expected to shoot up to 43 degrees Celsius over this weekend, the regional meteorological centre has warned. The day temperature had shot up to 42.8 degrees Celsius on May 11, making it the hottest day of the season so far. The following day, the mercury dropped to 42.2 degrees Celsius.
A scientist with the Regional Meteorological Centre in New Delhi said while the temperature is expected to rise sharply, the sky is likely to remain clear. “The mercury is likely to shoot up over the next few days. It is expected to cross 40 degrees by Thursday and touch 43 degrees by Sunday. The sky will remain almost clear. The moisture that was left behind by the rain and thunderstorm would dry up because of the intense heat within the next few days. This would help the mercury to rise,” he said.
On Tuesday the maximum temperature was recorded to be 38.2 degrees Celsius, which was three degrees above the normal. The minimum temperature was 24.5 degrees Celsius, which was one degree below the normal.
On Sunday afternoon a western disturbance triggered dust storm, thunderstorm and rain, which helped to bring down the temperature to less than 40 degrees Celsius.
The dust and thunderstorm on Sunday led to two deaths in Delhi. Another western disturbance is approaching but this time it is expected to affect the hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
“Delhi-ncr and other neighbouring states are likely to witness some strong winds on May 17 and May 18. The intense heat could trigger local thunderstorms, which if happens would be confined to some pockets. There are no chances of rain,” said the scientist.
Experts said that usually if the air is completely dry and there is intense heat, there are chances of a local dust storm. If there is some moisture brought in by easterly winds then there could be a local thunderstorm accompanied by rain.
These incidents are, however, confined to isolated areas as they are triggered by local clouds. But if a western disturbance is passing over the region then the effect could be widespread.