Delhi gets brief respite from heatwave as maximum temperature dips below 40 degrees Celsius

Delhi ‘s maximum temperature dipped below 40 degrees Celsius, the weather office said on Tuesday. The Safdarjung observatory, the primary weather station in the national capital, recorded a temperature of 39.7 degrees Celsius, 2.5 degrees above normal.

Delhi has been enduring intense heat, experiencing nine heatwave days in June so far, compared to none in 2023 and 2022. In June 2021, the city recorded one heatwave day, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data.

The maximum temperature dropped below 40 degrees Celsius due to a western disturbance in northwest India. On Tuesday, the relative humidity ranged between 51 per cent and 76 per cent, as per the IMD bulletin.

The heat index forecast for the next 48 hours is between 48 and 50 degrees Celsius. The heat index combines air temperature and relative humidity, measuring how hot it feels when humidity is considered along with the actual air temperature. This is also known as the apparent temperature or the temperature the body perceives.

Also Read: Delhi’s heatwave crisis: Surge in hospital visits as temperatures soar

For Wednesday, the Met Office has forecast generally cloudy skies with very light rain or thunderstorms, accompanied by gusty winds reaching speeds between 25 and 35 kilometres per hour. The national capital will be on a ‘yellow’ alert for the next seven days.

The IMD uses four colour-coded warnings: ‘green’ (no action needed), ‘yellow’ (watch and stay updated), ‘orange’ (be prepared), and ‘red’ (take action). The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 38 and 28 degrees Celsius, respectively. (With inputs from PTI)