DELHI IN GRIP OF HEATWAVE AS TEMPERATURE TOUCHES 41.6°C

Severe heatwave conditions prevailed across Delhi on Friday as the maximum temperature touched the year’s high of 41.6 degrees Celsius (°C), following which IMD issued an “orange alert” for Saturday, when the temperature is expected to rise to 42°C.

The maximum temperature at Safdarjung observatory, considered Delhi’s official base weather station, on Friday was seven degrees above normal and 1.6 degrees higher than the previous day’s 40°C, when the Capital reported its first official heatwave of this year.

IMD said this is the quickest rise to 41.6°C in April since 1951. Previously, in 2010, the temperature touched 41.6°C on April 12.

A heatwave is when the maximum temperature is over 40°C and 4.5 degrees above normal, and a severe heatwave is when the temperature is above 40°C and 6.5 degrees above normal.

While some parts of Delhi were recording what could classify as heatwave and severe heatwave conditions for the last two weeks, the temperature at Safdarjung touched 40°C, a prerequisite to declare a heatwave or severe heatwave, only on Thursday.

On Friday, the temperature rose above 40°C at all weather stations across the Capital, with the highest -- 43.9°C -- recorded at the Yamuna Sports Complex in east Delhi. Severe heatwave readings were also recorded at Pitampura (43.4°C), Mungeshpur (43°C), Ridge (42.9°C), Aya Nagar (42.4°C) and Lodhi Road (41.9°C) stations.

IMD senior scientist RK Jenamani said that the IMD issues warnings after considering an event’s probability and impact.