It was the HOTTEST March in Delhi since 2011

The Safdarjung observatory, whose recording is considered the official for the city, registered a maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal.

New Delhi, April 1: It was a hot and sunny Saturday morning in the national capital with the minimum temperature recorded at 23.2 degrees Celsius, five notches above the season's average, the Met office said.

"The skies will remain party cloudy in the day ahead," said an official of India Meteorological Department. The maximum temperature was likely to hover around 38 degrees Celsius. Humidity at 8.30 am was 54 per cent.

Friday's maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded five notches above the season's average at 38.6 and 23.3 degrees Celsius respectively.

With inputs from PTI

Highest in the last seven years.

The Safdarjung observatory, whose recording is considered the official for the city, registered a maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal, making it the hottest day of March since 2011.

Another observatory in Palam, showed an even higher 40.2 degrees Celsius, also the highest in the last seven years.

Image:Young girls cover their faces to protect themselves from scorching heat on a hot day in New Delhi on Sunday. Photo credit: Manvender Vashist/PTI

Expect rise in minimum temperature in the coming days

On Thursday, it was the hottest morning in New Delhi with the minimum temperature recorded at 23.7 degrees Celsius, the highest this year at five notches above the season's average.

The minimum temperature broke the record of Wednesday and weather office expect rise in minimum temperature in the coming days.

Image:Tourists trying to protect themselves from scorching heat in New Delhi. Photo credit: Kamal Singh/PTI

'No chance for the rainfall'

However, on Thursday, morning breeze in some parts of the national capital helped the people to cool off.

The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 38 degrees Celsius, an India Meteorological Department official told IANS. "Sky would remain partially cloudy with no chance for the rainfall. Due to the clouds, there would be a slight rise in the minimum temperature," the official said.

Image:People rest in tree shades to beat the heat at India Gate. Photo credit: Atul Yadav/PTI

Five notches above the season's average

The humidity was 58 per cent. Wednesday's maximum temperature settled at 38.2 degrees Celsius, six notches above the season's average and minimum at 23.1 degrees, five notches above the season's average.

Image:A mother covers her child to protect from heat on hot day. Photo credit: Manvender Vashist/PTI

'Back to back active Western Disturbances'

According to Skymet Weather, till now, back to back active Western Disturbances had been giving snowfall over the hilly states of North India that in turn had kept the weather pleasant over entire northwestern plains.

Image:An elephant trying to beat the heat at the Hathi Gaon on Jaipur-Delhi Road near Jaipur. Photo credit: PTI