While a savage heat engulfs most of India, the national capital Delhi is sweltering under its own fiery spell. On May 27, some regions soared past the 48°C mark, with no respite from the scorching heat wave expected in the coming days.
The city's hottest day of the season was Monday
The Safdarjung Observatory, considered the official marker for the city, recorded the second-highest maximum season temperature at 45.1°C, which is 4.7 degrees above normal, while the minimum stayed at 29.2°C. Across Delhi, Sunday hit a record peak temperature of 45.4°C, marking the city's first official brush with the heatwave.
Temperature skyrockets to 48.8°C
On Monday, the Mungeshpur weather station witnessed a blistering 48.8°C, a full eight degrees above typical seasonal averages. Minimum temperatures registered at 27.6°C, also a degree more than the average. In the southwestern part of the city, Najafgarh experienced a scorching 48.6°C, while at Palam, the mercury soared to an above-normal 46°C.
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Why the extreme heat in Najafgarh and Mungeshpur?
The Regional Head of IMD, Kuldeep Srivastava, explains the excessive temperatures in Najafgarh and Mungeshpur are owed to their peripheral city locations. Another factor is the direction of the winds. When blowing from the west, these areas are first to suffer, experiencing a rapid spike in temperature.
The heatwave's tyranny to continue
Source: aajtak
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According to Srivastava, the intense loo (hot winds) will persist over the next few days. The weather department anticipates the mercury to oscillate between 44°C and 48°C this week, with a red alert for extreme heat from Monday through Thursday. A slight cooling is expected afterwards, though true relife typically arrives only with the monsoon season.
When will the monsoon arrive in Delhi?
The South-West monsoon typically marks its onset over Kerala around June 1st, advancing northward with gusto, enveloping the entire nation by mid-July. This year, the monsoon commenced ahead of schedule, arriving in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands by May 19th. It is expected to reach Kerala by May 30th, following which the progression is closely monitored. Delhi traditionally welcomes the monsoon between June 25th and 30th.
Extended coverage on Delhi-NCR's current air pollution situation
It's noteworthy that during May of 2023, Delhi didn't experience a single day of loo, while four such days were recorded in 2022. The IMD has advised people, especially children, the elderly, and those with existing health issues, to exercise extreme caution as the probability for heat-related illnesses and heatstrokes significantly increases. Avoid heat exposure, stay cool, and prevent dehydration.
What defines a heatwave or severe heatwave?
A heatwave is declared when any weather station's maximum temperature exceeds the normal by 4.5 degrees or reaches at least 40°C, and a severe heatwave is called when temperatures surpass normal by 6.4 degrees or more.
