There will be no respite from the heatwave for the next five days. The national Capital on Wednesday had a maximum temperature of 41.5 degrees Celsius, which was three notches warmer than the normal for this time of the year. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Northwest India has been recording higher than normal temperatures since March last week, with weather experts attributing it to the absence of active western disturbances over north India and any major system over south India. The weather base station at Safdarjung Observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 22.2 degrees Celsius, which was two notches colder than the normal temperature for this season.
The mercury at the Safdarjung Observatory is expected to breach the 43-degree mark on Thursday and touch 44 degrees Celsius by Friday, the IMD said. As per the IMD data, Pitampura (43.6 degrees Celsius) and Mungeshpur (44.1 degrees Celsius) reeled under a heatwave.
The weather stations at Najafgarh, Ridge, and Sports Complex recorded their maximum temperature at 43.7 degrees Celsius, 43.6 degrees Celsius, and 44.2 degrees Celsius, respectively. The maximum temperature may even leap to 46 degrees Celsius in parts of Delhi, a Met department official said. The region had got some respite last week owing to cloudy weather due to the influence of a western disturbance over Afghanistan. A yellow alert warning has been issued for a heatwave spell in the national Capital starting from April 28, for the next five days. The IMD uses four colour codes for weather warnings —green (no action needed), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared) and red (take action).
The IMD said the heatwave could lead to "moderate" health concerns for vulnerable people — infants, the elderly, people with chronic diseases -- in affected areas. "Hence people of these regions should avoid heat exposure, wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes and cover the head by use of cloth, hat or umbrella etc," it said.
The city has recorded eight heatwave days in April this year, the maximum since 11 such days witnessed in the month in 2010.
Delhi may also see a partly cloudy sky, light rain, and a dust storm with winds gusting up to 50 kmph on Friday and Sunday, which may provide a temporary respite.
According to the sources in the discoms, the Delhi on Wednesday witnessed the highest power demand of 5769 MW in the month of April till the date. “The unabated heat wave in the national capital continues to push the power demand to newer highs.
At 3:30 pm on Wednesday, the Delhi’s peak power demand touched 5769 MW, the highest ever in the month of April in the national capital. This is an increase of over 29 per cent from April 1, 2022, when the city’s peak power demand had clocked 4469 MW. Yesterday, the peak power demand had clocked 5681 MW,” sources said.
“From March 1, 2022, Delhi’s peak power demand has increased by over 42%, when it had clocked 4040 MW,” sources said.
“On three occasions in April 2022, Delhi’s peak power demand has clocked the highest ever in April, each breaking the previous record in quick succession. On April 19, it was 5735 MW, 5761 MW on April 20 and 5769 MW on April 27, 2022,” sources said.