On Monday, mercury in Delhi soared to the highest of the season reaching 44 degrees Celsius.
“The maximum temperature was recorded at 44 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung observatory. It is the hottest day of the season so far,” a MeT Department official said. The minimum temperature settled at 23.8 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season’s average.
However, there could be some relief as the Met officials predicted pre-monsoon showers in next three days due to which heatwave conditions are likely to abate.
“Due to western disturbances in Jammu & Kashmir, the city will witness light rain spell with thunderstorm and because of the possibility of rain, the maximum temperature will be reduced by four to six degree Celsius” said RK Vishan, Scientist and Group Captain, Delhi wing, Indian Metrological Department.
According to a MeT department, relative humidity was recorded at 21 per cent. At Palam observatory, the maximum temperature was 46.2 degree Celsius, whereas the maximum temperature at Delhi Ridge and in Ayaa Nagar was recorded at 45.2 and 45.4 degree Celsius. last year, the maximum temperature was recorded at 39 degrees Celsius on May 2.
Illustrating about weather conditions in May, Vishan further said that in May, the maximum temperature normally remains at 39.6 degrees Celsius and minimum at 25.9 degrees Celsius. “In 1994, mercury crossed 45 degrees Celsius. On May 27 that year, the highest maximum temperature was recorded which was 47 degrees Celsius,” said the scientist at Indian Metrological Department, New Delhi.
In a weekly weather report, the Met officials have confirmed that maximum temperature will oscillate between 38 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees. However minimum temperature will remain around 24 degrees Celsius.
Though IMD said that overall maximum temperature settled at 44 degrees Celsius, but other weather monitoring agencies, like Skymat, and smart phones showed maximum temperature 46.2 degrees Celsius.
Not just the Capital but in many other cities including Agra, Chandigarh, Amritsar , Gwalior , Hisar, Una ,Bhopal and Rohatk, the maximum temperatures were recorded at 45.8, 42.7, 43.4, 45.4, 43.7, 45.5, 43, 41.9 and 44 degrees Celsius respectively.
Meanwhile, with precipitation chances of ten per cent, the humidity in city atmosphere was recorded at 18 per cent and at the same time, flow of wind was measured 21 km per hour. On Sunday, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 42 degrees Celsius and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.