The national capital, on Monday, reeled under scorching heat, with the maximum temperature settling at 43.4 degrees Celsius—three points above the season’s average, according to the India Meteorological Department’s Regional Meteorological Centre, New Delhi.
According to the IMD forecast, heat wave conditions are likely at isolated places over the next four days, while the sky will remain mainly clear.
Sustained strong surface winds, reaching 15-25 km/h and occasionally gusting to around 35 km/hr, are also expected during the day.
In Delhi, the Lodhi Road area reported a maximum temperature of 43.8 degrees C, which was 4.8 degrees C above normal. However, since only one station reported a temperature departure of 4.8 °C above normal, heat wave conditions were not declared today, as per the criteria.
The weatherman has forecast a gradual rise in maximum temperatures by about two-degrees C in the coming two days and no large change thereafter, adding that there could be a rise in minimum temperatures by 2-3 degrees C during next 24 hours, and no large change thereafter.
According to the IMD, heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are likely to prevail over the plains of northwest and central India during the coming week.
Accordingly, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, as well as the Vidarbha, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra have been informed, meanwhile, the concerned regions have been warning of conditions like warm nights.
Apart from Delhi, similar weather conditions are likely in NCR cities including Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has kept preparations in place in view of the extreme temperatures, under its heat action plan.
From setting up of cooling zones, on ground teams distributing ORS in places with high foot fall, drinking water availability in city’s buses, and several other such measures have been arranged by the government to provide relief to people amid scorching heat.
Talking of city’s air quality, Delhi’s average air quality index (AQI) on Monday reeled under the moderate category, with an index value reading of 173, based on the readings taken from 43, out of the total 47 monitoring stations across the city.