Reversal of winds brought a slight drop in temperature over Delhi, yesterday. Base observatory, Safdarjung recorded a high of 42.2°C, a drop of over 2°C from the highest of this season 44.4°C, registered on Sunday, 19th May. However, the heat will build up again and the weekend, including the polling day on 25th May, may set a new high for this season. Mercury is likely to breach 45°C. All the phase-6 poll-bound states of North India like Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will witness heat wave conditions, across the region. Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal may escape the extreme heat and mercury gets arrested under 40°C, at many places. Some pockets of these states will surely cross 40°C on the poll day.
There is no active western disturbance influencing weather activity in the plains, including Delhi. The excessive heat lowers the surface pressure and therefore, forms small pockets of low-pressure areas. Such small-scale systems are altering the wind pattern, mostly on a localized basis, as happened yesterday. Today, the temperature may go beyond 43°C at Safdarjung and Palam.
A Severe heat wave is likely in Delhi on account of mercury levels breaching the 45°C mark, around the weekend. The heat spell is likely to get extended till month's end, as well. The temperature is likely to go above normal by about 6°C and therefore, severe heat in many parts of Delhi/ NCR, is likely. Sky is expected to be clear for the next one week, accentuating the heat factor. Moderate breeze, coupled with searing heat may trigger ‘loo’ conditions over the region for the next one week.
