Delhi on Wednesday recorded its highest minimum temperature in April in three years as the mercury settled at 25.6 degrees Celsius, 5.6 degrees above normal and the highest for the month in the past three years, even as heatwave gripped the national capital for the third straight day.
A similar trend was observed in 2022, when the highest minimum temperature in April was recorded at 26.2 degrees Celsius. In both 2024 and 2023, the minimum temperature had not touched 25 degrees Celsius. The people of Delhi may get some relief on Thursday as the weather department has predicted thunderstorms and lightning.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a ‘warm night’, occurs when the minimum temperature departs from normal by 4.5 degree celsius to 6.4 degree celsius, and is only declared if the maximum temperature remains at 40 degrees Celsius or more.
The highest minimum temperature in 2024 was 24 degrees Celsius, while in 2023, it was 23.6 degrees. A similar trend was seen in 2022, when the highest minimum temperature was recorded at 26.2 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile a yellow alert has been issued for the capital.
The maximum temperature remained above 40 degrees Celsius at several locations on Wednesday, with the city’s primary weather station at Safdarjung recording a high of 40.5 degrees Celsius — 5.4 notches above normal. The rising mercury has led to Delhi’s peak power demand which clocked 5462 MW at 15.27 pm, highest ever in the first 9 days of April. It was 5,029MW on Tuesday.
Among the other monitoring stations, Ayanagar recorded a maximum temperature of 40.9 degree Celsius, Palam 40.3 degrees Celsius, Ridge 40.2 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road recorded a high of 39.7 degrees Celsius. With the daytime temperature in the capital hovering around 40 degrees Celsius for the past three days, four out of five weather stations in Delhi reported heatwave conditions, the IMD said.
Delhi recorded its first heatwave of the season on Monday when the maximum temperature soared to 40.2 degrees Celsius.
The humidity level in the capital on Wednesday fluctuated between 51 per cent and 41 per cent during the day, according to the IMD. For Thursday, the weather office has forecast thunderstorm with rain, with the maximum temperature likely to settle around 39 degrees Celsius, and the minimum around 25 degrees Celsius.
The IMD defines a heatwave day when the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees or more above the normal temperature, and the maximum is at least 40 degrees Celsius. A heatwave is also considered if the maximum temperature reaches 45 degrees Celsius or above. A ‘severe’ heatwave is declared when the maximum is 6.5 degrees or more above normal.
Delhi’s peak power demand surged to 5,462 MW at 3.27 pm on Wednesday - the highest recorded this year so far, according to data from the State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC). This was a sharp rise from Tuesday’s peak of 5,029 megawatts (MW). Delhi Power Minister Ashish Sood said the city’s peak power demand could touch 9,000 MW this season.
“In line with our focus on reliability, we’ve asked the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) to review all power purchase agreements to enhance procurement efficiency,” Sood said. He also highlighted the establishment of a joint control room with Delhi Transco Limited and discoms for real-time load monitoring and infrastructure protection.
As Delhi experiences its first heat wave of the season, several schools across the city are taking extra steps to protect students from heat-related illnesses. The measures include serving hydrating drinks like aam panna, lemonade, buttermilk and wood apple beverages on the school premises.
The weather department has advised residents to avoid heat exposure, wear lightweight, light-coloured and loose cotton clothes, and cover their heads with a cloth, hat or umbrella when outdoors. Delhi recorded its first heatwave of the season on Monday, with the maximum temperature touching 40.2 degrees Celsius — the highest so far this year.
“Under the influence of Western Disturbance; rainfall along with thunderstorm & lightning, gusty/squally winds likely over Northwest India during April 9-11. As a result, prevailing heat wave conditions will decrease significantly from April 10,” the IMD said in its prediction on Wednesday.
