As the heatwave continued to sweep the national Capital, the city on Saturday recorded a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius which was five notches higher than the normal temperature of the year, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The weather stations at Ridge, Ayanagar, Mungeshpur, Najafgarh, Pitampura, Palam and Lodhi Road recorded maximum temperatures of 45.6 degrees Celsius, 46 degrees Celsius, 45.9 degrees Celsius, 45.9 degrees Celsius, 44.5 degrees Celsius, 43.9 degrees Celsius and 40.6 degrees Celsius respectively.
The minimum temperature in the city settled at 25.7 degrees Celsius, which was two notches above the normal temperature for this time of season, IMD stated.
The national Capital had recorded a maximum temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius on April 18, 2010. The all-time high temperature for the month is 45.6 degrees Celsius, which was recorded on April 29, 1941.
The relative humidity recorded at the Safdarjung observatory, in the morning at 8:30 am was 36 per cent and 17 per cent in the evening at 5:30 pm. The IMD predicted, “Heat wave conditions to continue over Northwest & Central India till May 2 and over East India till April 30 and abate thereafter.” “Thunderstorm activity likely to enhance over East and Northeast India from today and over northwest India from 03rd May, 2022,” said IMD.
“Formation of a Low Pressure area over south Andaman Sea around 06th May, 2022,” weather station predicted.
The IMD, however, predicted dust and thunderstorm on Monday and Wednesday which is likely to give some respite to residents from the scorching heat. "Heatwave is likely to sweep across the region on Sunday too and the maximum temperature will shoot up to 43 degree Celsius.. People are likely to get some respite from the heat as the city would witness dust or thunderstorm on Monday and Wednesday. There will be partly cloudy sky on Tuesday," IMD said.
“However, in the upcoming week the mercury will be above 40 dergree Celsius,” predicted the IMD. For the plains, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius, and at least 4.5 notches above normal.
According to the weather office, city's minimum temperature was recorded at 25.7 degrees Celsius, two notches above the normal on Saturday morning. The relative humidity at 5.30 pm on Saturday was 17 percent, the IMD said.
Addressing a press conference earlier in the day, IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said night would be warmer in May in most parts of the country, including Delhi.
Private weather forecasting agency, Skymet Weather said Palam recorded highest maximum temperature of the season. "Delhi Palam recorded maximum temperature 44.6 degrees Celsius, highest of the season and also highest after 2017 when it was 44.9 degrees Celsius. Record is 45.3 degrees Celsius on April 25 in 1970. @SkymetWeather @JATINSKYMET (sic)," Vice President, Meteorology and Climate Change, Skymet Weather, Mahesh Palawat said in a tweet. Meanwhile, according to the sources in discoms, “The maximum power demand in the capital city on Sunday cloaked 5789 MW.” Sources said that on account of being a Saturday, Delhi’s peak power demand was slightly less than yesterday’s peak. It clocked 5789 MW at around 3: 45 pm and just a little past midnight, it had clocked 5989 MW,” said sources.