Midsummer madness: Delhi simmers, 2-day heatwave spell likely from Tuesday

NEW DELHI: The mercury rose to 43 degrees Celsius in parts of Delhi on Sunday and is likely to rise further. As the day temperature is expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius in isolated areas, the India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for heatwave conditions for Tuesday and Wednesday. Apart from Delhi, heatwave conditions are likely in parts of northwest and central India.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 41.9 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, at Safdarjung, which is the city’s base station, on Sunday. It was 40.8 degrees Celsius a day earlier. However, the heat index or feel-like temperature settled at 44.5 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm on Sunday. At 43 degrees Celsius, Ayanagar in southwest Delhi was the hottest station, followed by Ridge in north Delhi at 42.8 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature is expected to remain between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius from Monday to Wednesday. “A gradual rise in maximum temperatures is likely by 3-5 degrees Celsius over many parts of northwest India till May 21 and no significant change during May 22-23. Heat wave conditions in isolated pockets are likely to prevail over Rajasthan during May 17-22; Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during May 18-23; Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha during May 17-21; Chhattisgarh on May 20 and 21; and isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh during May 17-21,” said IMD in its bulletin.

The IMD defines a heatwave day when the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees or more above normal temperature and the maximum is at least 40 degrees Celsius. A heatwave is also considered if the maximum temperature touches 45 degrees Celsius or above. A ‘severe’ heat wave is declared when the maximum is 6.5 degrees or more above normal.

IMD declares a heatwave when such criteria are met in at least two stations in a meteorological sub-division for at least two consecutive days. A heatwave is then declared on the second day.

In this season, parts of Delhi reeled under three consecutive heatwave days from April 23 to 25. However, Safdarjung saw one heatwave day on April 25 when the mercury climbed to 42.8 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature was set at 25.9 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. It is likely to reach 29 degrees Celsius by May 19.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the moderate category with an AQI of 174.