Heatwave sears city for 5th day, relief likely on weekend
New Delhi, June 7: Many parts of Delhi reeled under a punishing heatwave for a fifth consecutive day, on Tuesday, and similar conditions are likely over the next two days. Weather experts said a fresh western disturbance may bring some relief on the weekend.
At the Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s base station, the maximum temperature settled at 43.5° Celsius, three notches more than normal.
Five out of 11 weather stations in Delhi recorded a heatwave on Tuesday.
The maximum temperature settled at 46.3° C at Mungeshpur and Sports Complex, making them the hottest places in the national capital.
Pitampura, Najafgarh, and Ridge recorded a high of 45.7° C, 45.9° C, and 44.9° C, respectively.
The Met office had earlier issued a yellow alert, warning of heatwave conditions at isolated places in the national capital on Tuesday. It said the heatwave could lead to “moderate” health concerns for vulnerable people— infants, elderly, and those with chronic diseases.
“Hence, people of these regions should avoid heat exposure and wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose cotton clothes and cover the head with a piece of cloth, a hat, or an umbrella,” it said.
There is an “increased likelihood of heat-illness symptoms in people who are either exposed to the sun for a prolonged period or doing heavy work,” an IMD advisory read.
Weather experts have attributed the heatwave spell to the lack of strong western disturbances and incessant hot and dry westerly winds.
Mahesh Palawat, the vice-president (climate change and meteorology) of Skymet Weather, said a fresh western disturbance may induce a cyclonic circulation over Punjab and Haryana which would lead to intermittent pre-monsoon activity in Haryana, Punjab, North Rajasthan, and West Uttar Pradesh from June 10.
The maximum temperature in the city may drop to 40-41° C by Friday. With the monsoon expected to cover eastern India by June 15, easterly winds will bring in moisture and intensify pre-monsoon activity in Northwest India. —