Base observatory at Safdarjung recorded the highest maximum temperature of this season, yesterday. Representative of Delhi observatory registered 39.2°C, surpassing the earlier reading of 39.1°C on 28thMarch. The airport weather station Palam reached 39.3°C and the meteorological office at Lodhi Road recorded its second 40°C of this season. These temperatures are 6-8°C above the normal. Few more stations breaching 40 degree mark are : Najafgarh-40.6, Ridge- 40.2, Pitampura- 41.4, and Narela- 41.7 degree. Narela and Pitampura were 10 and 9 degree Celsius above the average respectively, amounting to severe heat wave conditions.
Heat wave is considered if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40 degree or more for plains, 37 degree or more for coastal stations and at least 30 degree or more for hilly region. Heat wave is announced when the departure from normal is 4.5-6.4 degree and severe heat wave, when the departure is more than 6.4 degree. Heat wave is also declared in the plains when actual temperature become >/= to 45 degree and severe heat wave in case of >/= 47 degree.
Soaring heat is expected to continue for the next 24hr, with similar range of temperatures. Marginal relief can be expected on 31st Mar and 01stApril, on account of strengthening of surface winds. However, heat is likely to come back again around the weekend and extend in to next week.
No cloud cover is expected at least for one week and could be longer. March is going to end as completely dry month, 1st time in the last 10 years or even more. March 2010 and 2018 had witnessed similar conditions but recorded trace of rainfall....
