The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for heatwave conditions and strong surface winds for the next three days, with a dust storm likely to sweep across Delhi and the National Capital Region in the next few hours as sand-laden winds from the Thar Desert move towards the region.
Satellite images showed a thick layer of sand and fog approaching Delhi-NCR, with no signs of rain-laden clouds.
The dust storm, caused by strong westerly winds from Rajasthan, has already reached parts of western Haryana and is expected to affect Delhi region, National Capital Region and western Uttar Pradesh before gradually moving away by midnight.
Read also | Delhi is boiling at 44.6 degrees Celsius as a heatwave sweeps northern India. See temperatures by station here
IMD forecast on Delhi weather
The IMD forecast strong surface winds and heatwave-like conditions during the afternoon and evening hours over the next three days.
The maximum and minimum temperatures in the national capital are expected to reach around 44 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius, respectively, on Monday.
On Sunday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius, which is 3.4 degrees higher than the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department. The minimum temperature settled at 28.4 degrees Celsius, about two degrees higher than normal.
Several weather stations across Delhi and the NCR reported temperatures much higher than normal. The Ridge and Ayanagar recorded the highest maximum temperature of 44.6 degrees Celsius each, followed by Lodhi Road at 43.8 degrees Celsius, Palam at 43.7 degrees Celsius and Safdarjung at 43.6 degrees Celsius.
Typical maximum temperatures ranged between 2.3°C and 4.8°C, indicating heatwave-like conditions in many parts of the city.
Minimum temperatures also remained above average at most stations. Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 28.7 degrees Celsius, while the Ridge and Palam recorded 27.2 degrees Celsius and 27.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. Lodhi and Ayanagar road recorded minimum temperatures of 26.8 degrees Celsius and 26.3 degrees Celsius.
Relative humidity levels ranged between 37 percent and 18 percent during the day.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality fell to the ‘poor’ category on Sunday evening, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 205 at 4 pm, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
