Delhi bakes as ‘feels like’ temperature soars to 53.5 degrees Celsius

Delhi baked under intense weather conditions on Tuesday as the “feels like” temperature climbed to a scorching 53.5 degrees Celsius at 5:30 PM, even as the India Meteorological Department said the city did not meet the criteria for a heat wave.

The maximum temperature at Safdarjung, the city’s base station, settled at 40.5 degrees Celsius, 3.1 notches above normal. Palam recorded a maximum of 41.0 degrees Celsius, 3.2 notches above normal, while Lodhi Road recorded 40.1 degrees Celsius, 3.1 notches above normal.

Ridge was the hottest station at 41.5 degrees Celsius, 4.8 notches above normal, and Ayanagar recorded 40.1 degrees Celsius, 2.0 notches above normal.

The weather office said trace rainfall was recorded till 8.30 am at Safdarjung, Palam, Lodhi Road and Ayanagar, while Ridge did not receive any rain. Between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, trace rainfall was recorded at Palam and Ayanagar, while no rainfall was recorded at Safdarjung, Lodhi Road and Ridge.

The minimum temperature at Safdarjung settled at 30.2 degrees Celsius, 2.3 notches above normal. Palam also recorded a minimum of 30.2 degrees Celsius, 2.4 notches above normal. Lodhi Road and Ayanagar recorded 31.2 degrees Celsius, 4.2 notches and 4.4 notches above normal, respectively, while Ridge recorded 29.3 degrees Celsius, 3.8 notches above normal.

Despite the oppressive conditions, no heatwave was realised over Delhi, the IMD said.

“As per data received until now, the heatwave criteria is satisfied only at one station over the subdivision of Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi. No heatwave was realised over Delhi today as we need a minimum of two stations over the subdivision of Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi to satisfy the heatwave criteria,” the IMD said.

Experts said that the dry westerly winds from Pakistan are keeping temperatures high, while southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea are also reaching Delhi and increasing humidity.

“When these dry and moist air masses interact, clouds do form, but there is not enough moisture for widespread rainfall. By the time cloud formation takes place, usually around 4 or 5 pm, the day’s maximum temperature has already been recorded. That is why both the maximum temperature and the ‘feel-like’ temperature have remained unusually high,” Mahesh Palawat from Skymet said.