Capital logs maximum temperature of 43.6°C, yellow alert for heatwave for next three days

Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees Celsius, 3.4 notches above the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The minimum temperature settled at 28.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning, two notches above the seasonal average, it stated.

The maximum temperature across various weather stations in Delhi-NCR remained significantly above normal on Sunday, with the Ridge and Ayanagar stations recording the highest temperature at 44.6 degrees Celsius each.

Lodhi Road recorded a maximum temperature of 43.8 degrees Celsius, followed by Palam at 43.7 degrees Celsius and Safdarjung at 43.6 degrees Celsius.

The departure from normal ranged between 2.3 degrees Celsius and 4.8 degrees Celsius, indicating prevailing heatwave-like conditions in several parts of the city.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature also stayed above normal at most stations. Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 28.7 degrees Celsius, while Ridge registered 27.2 degrees Celsius and Palam 27.6 degrees Celsius.

Lodhi Road and Ayanagar recorded minimum temperatures of 26.8 degrees Celsius and 26.3 degrees Celsius, respectively. The departures from normal minimum temperatures ranged from minus 0.4 degrees Celsius to plus 2 degrees Celsius.

The weather department has predicted a yellow alert for strong surface winds and a heatwave in the afternoon and evening for the next three days.

The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 44 and 30 degrees Celsius, respectively, on Monday.

Relative humidity oscillated between 37 per cent and 18 per cent throughout the day.

The air quality was recorded in the ‘poor’ category at 4 pm, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 205, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.