Searing heat wave abates, weathermen say comfortable days ahead

New Delhi, May 8 (UNI) The severe heat wave, that has been tormenting the people of Delhi for the last nearly a week abated today with the temperature plummeting to 41.4 degree Celcius, one degree above normal.

Weathermen said the heat wave sweeping through the Capital in the last week, which saw the mercury touching a five year high of 44.5 degree Celcius on Saturday, had abated. ''The heat wave that has been sweeping Delhi since last week has abated,''the weather office said.

With the clouds hovering over the Delhi skyline since early this morning, it was a pleasant day for the residents, a welcome relief from the sizzling heat experienced since Friday.

In fact, the conditions are likely to witness a further improvement in the next few days with the weathermen forecasting a partly cloudy sky with duststorms and thurndershowers in a few areas.

They have also forecast a further drop in mercury to 40 degree Celcius tomorrow with light showers.

Even thereafter, the weather conditions would remain comfortable with the mercury expected to hover around the 41 or 42 Degree mark.

''Delhi is unlikely to witness, at least in the next weeks or so, the heat wave conditions that were experienced from Friday to Sunday, when temperatures of around 44 degree Celcius, five degree above normal were witnessed. Mostly, the temperature would hover around the 41 degree Celcius or 42 degree Celcius mark,''they said.

In fact, the last three days have witnessed the mercury touching a new high for May. The temperature of 44.5 degree Celcius on Saturday was the highest for the month of May in the last five years.

The last time, the mercury touched such high levels in the month of May was in 2002 when the maximum temperature rose to 46 degree Celcius on May 19 2002, and touched 45 degrees on May 10 and May 12 the same year.

The highest temperature in May has been recorded at 47.2 degree Celcius on May 29, 1944.

UNI AR MSJ GC1738