Heat wave grips city, rain relief likely today
BLAZING SUN At 44.6 degrees Celsius, the national capital witnessed the season’s highest temperature second day in a row
The mercury touched 44.6 degrees Celsius at the Safdarjung observatory on Monday, for the second day in a row in the city reeling under a heat wave. This was nearly four notches above normal for this time of the year.
The maximum temperature on Sunday, too, was recorded at 44.6 degrees Celsius, the highest this season. The minimum temperature on Monday, however, was 33.6 degrees Celsius, which is six notches above normal, and much more than Sunday’s 30.4 degrees Celsius.
The previous highest at Safdarjung, recording of which is considered official for the city, was on May 15 with the temperature reaching 44.4 degrees Celsius. The highest temperature recorded at Safdarjung in 2016 was 44 degrees Celsius on May 3, while it touched 45.5 degrees on May 26 in 2015.
“This rise in temperature is because of a heat wave over north India. An anti-cyclone is established over northwest India resulting in a heat wave. This will gradually move eastwards and weaken under the influence of a fresh western disturbance,” a MeT official said, adding that the heat wave spell is likely to be short-lived and relief is in sight from Tuesday.
On the night of June 6, dust storm has been predicted while rain and thundershowers are expected on June 7 and 8 along with squally winds.
On Tuesday, partly cloudy sky is expected with possibility of rain and thundershower. “The maximum and minimum temperature will be around 43 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius, respectively,” the MeT official said.
“The dust storm and thunderstorm from Tuesday night will curb the heat wave. It will bring down the temperature a little bit for a couple of days and provide a bit of relief from the heat,” he said.
The humidity level on Monday oscillated between 40% and 19%.
Other stations in the city, however, had slightly lower maximum temperature compared to Sunday. The Aya Nagar observatory registered a maximum temperature of 45.2 degrees, while areas under Lodhi Road and Ridge recorded a day temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius and 45.5 degrees, respectively.
On Sunday, the maximum temperature at Palam touched 47 degrees, which is the highest for the station this season. On Monday, however, it hit 45.8 degrees.