Delhi continued to experience extreme heat for the sixth consecutive day, with temperatures reaching heatwave to severe heatwave levels despite a slight drop in temperature.
Narela in north Delhi was the hottest area, recording 49.2 degrees Celsius, while Mayur Vihar in east Delhi had the lowest temperature among the forty-degree range at 45.2 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is still investigating the record-breaking 52.9 degrees Celsius reported at the automatic weather station in Mungeshpur on Wednesday.
“The 52.9 degrees Celsius recorded at the automatic weather station in Mungeshpur is being examined. We will soon be able to explain if it was the fault of a sensor or not,” an IMD official said. On Thursday, Mungeshpur and Najafgarh in west Delhi both recorded 49 degrees Celsius.
A slight decrease in maximum temperature is expected on Friday due to moisture-laden north-westerly winds, though rising humidity will likely increase discomfort. On Thursday, Delhi experienced dry and hot westerly winds.
“The city is already receiving components of the north-westerly winds, which will increase towards Friday evening. So, there are chances of a marginal drop in the maximum temperature on Friday, but discomfort will rise as the day will be both hot and humid. Towards the evening, there will be some relief with the possibility of quick cooling because of a thunderstorm and isolated light rain,” an IMD official said.
Safdarjung, Delhi’s base station, faced a heatwave for the fifth consecutive day, recording a maximum temperature of 45.6 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal. The minimum temperature was 30.4 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal. On Wednesday, Safdarjung recorded the year’s highest temperature and the station’s second-highest ever at 46.8 degrees Celsius.
A heatwave is defined when the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and is at least 4.5 degrees above normal, or if it surpasses 45 degrees Celsius. A severe heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is 6.5 degrees or more above normal.
On Thursday, the heat index or “feel-like” temperature was 44 degrees Celsius due to dry winds. Temperatures at several locations began to rise early, with Narela reaching 46 degrees by 11:30 am.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert for a heatwave on Friday, with the potential for thunderstorms and light rain in the evening. The maximum and minimum temperatures at Safdarjung are expected to be around 44 and 29 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The city continued to experience poor air quality, with the AQI at 227 on Thursday, slightly better than the 238 recorded the previous day.