A strong duststorm coupled with a light drizzle on Tuesday afternoon cooled the temperature and brought welcome relief in the national Capital where residents have been reeling under a run of sweltering weather. “An 80-km per hour wind started at 4.15 pm and brought with it a lot of dust. Visibility dropped to 500 m at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport,” said Rajendra Jenamani, India Meteorological Department Director (IGIA).
According to him, the duststorm was an outcome of the extremely hot conditions on Monday, which had pushed the mercury up to 43°C. “When it gets too hot, a vacuum is created which results in a strong wind blowing in. Such strong winds that blow in dust are normal in north-western India,” he said. The city also witnessed light drizzle, which cooled the temperature. Delhiites have been reeling under extreme heat for the last few days during which the maximum stayed above the 40°C mark, touching 43°C on Monday.
Meanwhile, the minimum on Tuesday was recorded at 28.5°C, three notches above normal. The maximum temperature was recorded at 41.5°C, two notches above the normal, a MeT official said. The city also received traces of rainfall and humidity levels oscillated between 69 per cent and 28 per cent. The weatherman has predicted clear sky on Wednesday. “The sky will be mainly clear. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 42°C and 28°C respectively,” the official said.