In a first since 2011, Delhi’s day temperature above 40°Celsius in April first week
Not just Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat also reported temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius on Monday, leading to severe heatwave conditions
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IMD Weather Update: Water spray machine in action at India Gate in Delhi amid heatwave conditions (Express Photo/Praveen Khanna)Amid a yellow alert sounded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi on Monday recorded the maximum temperature at 40.2 degrees Celsius. In an indication that the city is set to see a harsher summer, Monday’s maximum temperature is the highest recorded by the Capital in the first week of April since 2011, as per the IMD data.
While the Capital is likely to experience a heatwave till Wednesday, as per the weather forecast, it is uncommon for the city to register a heatwave in April, the data shows. The city recorded a heatwave over a span of four days in 2022. But that too happened in the second week of April.
Not just Delhi, parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat also reported temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius on Monday, leading to severe heatwave conditions. For it to be called a heatwave day in plains, at least two stations — for two days in a row — should record maximum temperature at or above 40 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius from normal.
The IMD said that data from three stations in Delhi — Safdarjung, which is representative of the Capital, Ridge, as well as Ayanagar — validates heatwave conditions for Monday. If the temperatures remain above 40 degrees Celisus for the second day in a row, a heatwave will be registered.
The maximum temperature at the Safdarjung Observatory was recorded at 40.2 degrees Celsius, around five degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was logged at 20.2 degrees Celsius, which is near normal. In other stations, including Ridge and Ayanagar, the maximum temperature passed 41 degrees.
The IMD forecast for this week shows that the maximum temperature would be around 40 to 42 degrees Celsius up to Wednesday and the minimum temperature is expected to be around 21 to 24 degrees Celsius. Between April 10 and April 13, a partly cloudy sky is likely and a relief may be expected, as temperatures are expected to drop in parts of North India, including in Delhi, officials added.
The week’s forecast by the IMD said that a partly cloudy sky with thunderstorms and gusty winds (up to 40 kmph) is expected on Thursday reducing the daytime temperatures to around 39 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature is likely to drop to 18 degrees Celsius.
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