There was no respite from the blistering heat waves on Monday as mercury soared to an unbearable 45.5 degrees Celsius (at Safdarjung), breaking the 10-year record in the month of June. Palam sizzled at 47.6 degrees Celsius, although it was not the highest for the season. While temperature is likely to remain high around 46 degrees Celsius for a couple of days, the Met Department has predicted dust storms on Thursday and Friday.
“It was the hottest day for the month of June in last ten years in the city. The second hottest day was recorded on June 1, 2012 when the maximum touched 45.4 degrees Celsius. This was followed by 45 degrees Celsius recorded on June 21, 2005. No respite is in sight for city dwellers for the coming few days,” said a Met official.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 30.1 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, and slightly up from Sunday’s temperature when it had settled at 28.6 degrees Celsius. The humidity levels oscillated between 52 and 19 per cent during the day. In Palam, the day temperature settled at 47.6 degrees Celsius, a day after it had registered 47.8 degrees Celsius, the hottest in the last 62 years.
“The heat wave conditions are expected to remain for at least three more days. The mercury is expected to remain in the 43-45 degrees Celsius bracket till June 12. Possibilities of dust storm and partly cloudy sky may bring the temperature down to 41-42 degrees Celsius between June 13 and June 15,” the official added. The minimum temperature, however, will continue to hover close to the 30 degrees mark. The current spell of extreme hot weather conditions began on June 3 when mercury crossed the 40 degrees mark to settle at 41.7 degrees Celsius.