New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department said that parts of Delhi were sweltering in a heatwave on Monday, with the maximum temperature soaring over the 40-degree limit in four spots.
The Safdarjung Observatory reported a high temperature of 38.1 degrees Celsius, five degrees above usual. The lowest temperature recorded was 19 degrees Celsius, news agency PTI reported.
Even though a partially overcast sky is forecast for Tuesday, no significant respite is in sight.
According to IMD authorities, a protracted dry spell has resulted in “extreme” hot weather conditions across northwest India.
“The heatwave spell is likely to continue over most parts of northwest India and Madhya Pradesh over the next five days and over Gujarat during the next two days,” IMD official was quoted by PTI in its report.
A “heatwave” is proclaimed in the plains when the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and is at least 4.5 degrees above usual. According to the IMD, a “severe” heatwave is proclaimed when the temperature deviates from normal by more than 6.4 degrees Celsius.
Four Delhi weather stations recorded maximum temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Ridge, Najafgarh, Pitampura, and Sports Complex stations recorded temperatures of 40.2 degrees Celsius, 40.6 degrees Celsius, and 40.7 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The scorching weather has been linked by experts to a lack of rainfall caused by dry westerly winds. For the first time since 2018, Delhi saw no rain in March. In a typical month, it receives 15.9 mm of rain.
On Wednesday last week, the Safdarjung Observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 39.6 degrees Celsius, the highest so far this season.
The maximum temperature at the base station is expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius on April 6 and increase to 42 degrees Celsius on April 9, according to the IMD.
A devastating heatwave scorched huge swaths of India in March, making it the country’s hottest March in 122 years.
The extreme heat was ascribed by the meteorological service to a lack of rainfall caused by the absence of strong western disturbances over north India and any large system over south India.
The country as a whole received 8.9 mm of rain, which was 71% less than the long-term average of 30.4 mm. It was also the third-lowest March precipitation since 1901, after just 7.2 mm in 1909 and 8.7 mm in 1908.
“Over the country as a whole, the average maximum temperature (33.10 degrees Celsius) recorded in March 2022 is the highest ever in the last 122 years,” the IMD said.
The country’s highest temperature in March 2010 was 33.09 degrees Celsius.
(With PTI Inputs)