Delhi’s double whammy: Warmest night yet—and it ‘feels like’ 50 degrees in the day

The ‘feel-like’ temperature or the heat index in the capital soared to 50.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday afternoon. The recording taken at 2.30 pm showed the actual temperature to be at 39.8 degrees Celsius. As per the IMD, the relative humidity levels at the time were 44 per cent.

On Tuesday, the heat index, which factors in both temperature and humidity, climbed to 48.5 degree Celsius. The discomfort continued into Wednesday morning, with the heat index hovering around 40 degrees Celsius, despite the air temperature being significantly lower.

At 10 am on Wednesday, the temperature was 32.4 degree Celsius, but the heat index stood at 39.4 degrees, primarily due to high humidity levels, which were recorded at 64 per cent. The relative humidity in the city has ranged between 43 per cent and 64 per cent since Tuesday, adding to the heat discomfort experienced by residents.

Amid these sultry conditions, Delhi’s power demand also surged, reaching a peak of 7,375 megawatts (MW) on Wednesday, as per data from the State Load Despatch Centre, Delhi.

The heat-stress conditions in Delhi-NCR continue even against the backdrop of the region witnessing several duststorms, thunderstorms and rainfall this month. As a result, it has received 92.7 mm of total monthly rainfall against the season’s normal of 16.8 mm.

Unlike previous years, there have been no heatwave days registered so far this month. The IMD defines a heatwave when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 degree Celsius in the plains and based on departure from the normal temperature, it is 4.5 degrees to 6.4 degrees, which is logged for two days in a row in at least two stations.

The minimum temperatures have been on the rise in the entire Delhi-NCR region in the past 24 hours, said the IMD on Wednesday. The minimum temperature crossed 30 degrees Celsius at Gurgaon as well.

In Gurgaon, it was recorded at 30.4 degree Celsius, and at Najafgarh it was 31.5 degrees. Cities including Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad saw the nighttime temperature increase by around 1.6 degrees Celsius.

As per the IMD forecast, partly cloudy skies are forecast from May 22 (Thursday) to May 27, next week. The minimum temperature is expected to be above normal at around 27-29 degrees Celsius, while the maximum is forecast to see a slight dip by a degree or two and be around 37-39 degrees up to May 27, said the IMD. Windy conditions would persist till the weekend, with winds reaching up to 20 kmph, said the IMD.

This is expected to clear pollutants, as the air quality forecast by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, said that the air quality index is forecast to be in the ‘moderate’ category till May 23. In the subsequent days, due to calm wind conditions, which are unfavourable for the dispersal of pollutants, the AQI is expected to hover between the ‘moderate’ and ‘poor’ category.

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) said it is closely monitoring the situation to decide on invoking GRAP-1 restrictions in the capital. It was recorded at 204 in the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board.