Delhi records hottest day of season at 42.5°C, heatwave likely on May 18

The mercury soared to 42.5 degrees Celsius in the national capital on Thursday, marking the highest temperature recorded in the city so far this summer, according to the weather office.

The previous hottest day was May 8, with a maximum temperature of 42 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Thursday’s maximum temperature was two degrees above normal, the IMD said. The relative humidity during the day varied between 25 percent and 65 percent.

According to the IMD’s seven-day forecast, heatwave conditions are likely in isolated places in the capital on Saturday, with temperatures expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius.

Heatwave conditions are defined by the Met department as occurring when the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees or more above normal and reaches at least 45 degrees Celsius.

There was no heatwave in May 2023 in Delhi, which recorded a highest temperature of 43.7 degrees Celsius last year. In 2022, the capital experienced four heatwave days, according to IMD data.

For Friday, the weather office has forecast partly cloudy skies with maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 43 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively. (With inputs from PTI)