The national capital witnessed scorching heat on Saturday, recording its highest maximum temperature this year so far. Several weather stations reported heatwave conditions across the city, even as IMD forecast rain from Monday to Wednesday, bringing some hope of relief to Delhiites.
While a yellow alert was issued for Saturday, a similar alert remains in place for Sunday as well, warning people of isolated heatwave conditions.
On Saturday, Safdarjung, the city’s weather representative, recorded a maximum temperature of 42.8 degrees Celsius, 5.1 degrees above normal and 0.9 degrees higher than the previous day, which meets the criteria of a heat wave.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, a heat wave is classified when the maximum temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius or above, and is 4.5 to 6.4 degrees above normal.
This was also the highest maximum temperature recorded in Delhi in the last four years since 2022, when the maximum reached 43.5 degrees Celsius on April 28, 2022.
Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 25.2 degrees Celsius, which is 2.5 degrees above normal and only 0.7 degrees higher than the previous day.
Other weather stations also recorded isolated heat wave conditions. Lodhi Road recorded a maximum temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius, which is 5.6 degrees above normal. The Ridge recorded at least 44.5 degrees, 6.1 degrees above normal. Ayanagar recorded a temperature of no less than 43.2 degrees Celsius, which is 4.8 degrees above normal.
While the IMD initially classified Friday as the first isolated heatwave of the season, the Meteorological Department later on Saturday clarified that it was the third consecutive day of heatwave.
The IMD classifies a heatwave when at least two stations meet the required criteria. An IMD official clarified that although Delhi met the heat wave status only at one station on Thursday, the two-step norms actually apply to the entire Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi sub-division.
“On Thursday, one station, specifically Rohtak, in Haryana and the Ridge in Delhi, met the heatwave criteria, making it the first day. Saturday was the third consecutive day of heatwaves,” an IMD official said.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Sunday as well. The official added: “These conditions are likely to continue until Sunday.
Due to the influence of low easterly winds at the tropospheric level, maximum temperatures may decrease on Tuesday, with the possibility of very light rain starting on Monday.
According to the Meteorological Department forecast, a spell of very light rain, coupled with thunderstorms and gusty winds, may bring some relief from Monday to Wednesday at least. The maximum temperature is expected to drop to 38-40 degrees Celsius at the end of next week.
The minimum temperature is expected to range between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius during the next two days.
The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was 243 (poor) at 4 pm, compared to the AQI of 226 (poor) recorded at the same time on Friday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to CPCB standards, an air quality index (AQI) of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’.
Delhi’s Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) has forecast that the AQI will remain in the poor category over the weekend and then improve to the moderate category in subsequent days.
