Delhi Heatwave: IMD predicts light rain, dust storm today

Delhi Heatwave: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted some light rain and dust storm later in the day, which is likely to bring some relief to Delhi residents amid the blistering heat.

Delhi that has been gripped by an intense heatwave recorded a minimum temperature of 30.4 degree Celsius on Thursday.

The Safdarjung observatory on Wednesday recorded a maximum temperature of 46.8 degree Celsius, the highest in 79 years. The previous record was 46.7 degree Celsius on June 17, 1945.

Also Read: Delhi temperature shatters records as Mungeshpur bakes at 52.3 degrees Celsius

The weather department has forecast a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of a dust storm or thunderstorm and very light rain accompanied by gusty winds today to bring some from Delhi heatwave.

On Wednesday, hours after Delhi’s temperature broke all weather records, parts of Delhi-NCR witnessed a sudden change of weather as some areas received light showers.

The IMD later clarified that the maximum temperature of over 52 degrees Celsius recorded in Delhi on Wednesday was an “error in sensor or local factor.

“The maximum temperature over Delhi NCR varied from 45.2 degrees Celsius to 49.1 degrees Celsius in different parts of city, Mungeshpur reported 52.9 degrees Celsius as an outlier compared to other stations,” it said.

“It could be due to an error in the sensor or a local factor. IMD is examining the data and sensors,” it added.

The maximum temperature is likely to reach 45 degrees Celsius. The humidity level was 36 per cent at 8:30 am.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) was in the ‘poor’ category with a reading of 236, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.  (With Inputs from PTI)