The week started off on a dry note in Delhi and looked like high temperatures will lead to some thundery build up but sadly that did not happen. Maximums rose from 40⁰C on Monday to 42⁰C on Wednesday. In the last 24 hours, the day temperature at the Palam Observatory recorded 42.4⁰C, which was seven degrees above normal. At Safdarjung the maximum settled five degrees above normal at 40.5⁰C.
Besides the heat wave, Delhi is also experiencing a hot day condition (minimums staying five degrees above normal). The morning minimum on Thursday recorded 30⁰C.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, a flow of dry and hot northwesterly winds led to an excessive rise in the temperatures across the city but maximums will not rise any further. However heat wave condition could continue to prevail for another two days. The rise in temperature may trigger some thundershowers during Monday. The rain will however, not be of much help in terms of relief from the hot weather.
“Rain in Delhi is expected on Monday due to a low pressure system formed in the Bay of Bengal. This system is likely to move inland into Central India and change the wind pattern from dry northwesterly to moist southeasterlies”, explains AVM (Retd) G.P Sharma.
Photo by Ritika Acharya.