Amid the national capital’s maximum temperature dipping below 40 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, the feel like temperature or heat index in Delhi soared above 50 degrees celsius making it uncomfortable for Delhiites due to muggy weather.

The Safdarjung observatory, the national capital's primary weather station, recorded a temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius, 2.5 notches above normal. The minimum temperature settled at 28.6 degrees celsius, one degree above the normal.

Delhi had been reeling from sweltering heat, recording nine heatwave days in June so far against none in 2023 and 2022. In 2021, the national capital recorded one heatwave day in June, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data. The maximum temperature has fallen below 40 degrees Celsius following a western disturbance in northwest India.

On Tuesday, the relative humidity oscillated between 51 per cent and 76 per cent, according to the IMD bulletin, making the day uncomfortable for the public despite the dip in the maximum temperatures across the city. The heat index was recorded at 50.8 degrees celsius and the met department has forecasted 48 to 50 degrees for the next 48 hours.

The weather office defines heat index as a combination of air temperature and relative humidity. It measures how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature. This is also sometimes referred to as apparent temperature and can be understood as the temperature the body perceives.

The other parts of the city recorded temperature below 40 degrees except Jafarpur which recorded 40 degrees celsius as its maximum temperature. Najafgarh recorded 39.1 degrees celsius, Aya nagar 39 degrees, Lodi road 39.6 degrees, Palam 39 degrees, Ridge 39.3 degrees, Pitampura 39.8 degrees, Pragati Maidan 38.4 degrees, Pusa 37.9 degrees, Rajghat 38.4 degrees and Salwan Public School at 38.6 degrees.

For Wednesday, the Met office has forecast generally cloudy skies with very light rain or thunderstorms, accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds between 25 and 35 kilometres per hour. The national capital will be on a 'yellow' alert during the next seven days.

The met department has also predicted temperatures to be below 40 degrees celsius in the upcoming days till June 1 with rain and thunderstorms. The IMD has predicted 37 degrees on Wednesday, 36 degrees on Thursday and Friday, 35 degrees on Saturday and Sunday and 34 degrees on Monday.