Weather update: Delhi braces for extreme heat, may touch 46 degrees
New Delhi, Apr 27: On the precipice of another punishing heatwave spell, Delhi is predicted to see a jump of two to three degrees Celsius in the maximum temperature on Wednesday.
The Safdarjung Observatory -- Delhi's base station -- had recorded a maximum temperature of 40.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
It is expected to breach the 42-degree mark on Wednesday and soar to 44 degrees Celsius by Thursday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The maximum temperature may even leap to 46 degrees Celsius in parts of Delhi, a Met department official said.
The capital had recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius on April 21, 2017. The all-time high maximum temperature for the month was 45.6 degrees Celsius on April 29, 1941.
Northwest India has been recording higher than normal temperatures since March last week, with weather experts attributing it to absence of active Western Disturbances over north India and any major system over south India.
The region had got some respite last week due to cloudy weather due to the influence of a Western Disturbance over Afghanistan.
A yellow alert warning of a heatwave spell in the national capital starting April 28 has been issued.
The
India
Meteorological
Department
(IMD)
uses
four
colour
codes
for
weather
warnings
--
green
(no
action
needed),
yellow
(watch
and
stay
updated),
orange
(be
prepared)
and
red
(take
action).
The
IMD
said
the
heatwave
could
lead
to
"moderate"
health
concerns
for
vulnerable
people
--
infants,
elderly,
people
with
chronic
diseases
--
in
affected
areas.
"Hence people of these regions should avoid heat exposure, wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose, cotton clothes and cover the head by use of cloth, hat or umbrella etc," it said.
The city has recorded eight heatwave days in April this year, the maximum since 11 such days witnessed in the month in 2010.
Delhi
may
see
a
partly
cloudy
sky,
light
rain,
and
a
dust
storm
with
winds
gusting
up
to
50
kmph
on
Friday,
which
may
provide
a
temporary
respite.
For
the
plains,
a
heatwave
is
declared
when
the
maximum
temperature
is
over
40
degrees
Celsius
and
at
least
4.5
notches
above
normal.
A severe heatwave is declared if the departure from normal temperature is more than 6.4 notches, according to the IMD.
The weather department had earlier said that northwest India and adjoining parts of central India are likely to see more intense and frequent heatwave conditions in April.
India recorded its warmest March in 122 years with a severe heatwave scorching large swathes of the country during the month. Parts of the country are also seeing wheat yields drop by up to 35 percent due to the unseasonal heat.