Delhi continued to reel under an intense spell of heat on Tuesday as temperatures across the city remained above the 40°C mark.
At Safdarjung, the city’s base weather station, the maximum temperature touched 40.5°C, more than 3°C above normal.
Despite the scorching conditions, no heatwave was reported in the national capital, as only one weather station in the region recorded temperatures more than 4.5°C above normal.
Officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the conditions required for declaring a heatwave were not met.
According to the IMD, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is at least 4.5°C above normal and exceeds 40°C, or when the maximum temperature reaches 45°C or above.
The IMD has issued a yellow alert and forecast rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday, along with a gradual decline in the city’s maximum temperature.
“Gradual fall in maximum temperature by 5–6°C during the next seven days,” the IMD said in its evening bulletin.
On Thursday, the maximum temperature is expected to range between 34°C and 36°C, while the minimum temperature is likely to remain between 22°C and 24°C.
Strong winds of 40–50 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 60 kmph, are also expected during the next two days, accompanied by rainfall.
The city continues to await the arrival of the southwest monsoon, which IMD officials expect to reach Delhi by July 5, later than its normal onset date of June 27.