A tormenting heatwave swept through Delhi and neighbouring cities on Sunday with the mercury crossing 49 degrees Celsius in pockets of the national capital. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the mercury touched 49.2 degrees Celsius at Mungeshpur in northwest Delhi while Najafgarh in southwest part of the city recorded 49.1 degrees Celsius.
At the Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's base station, the maximum temperature rose to 45.6 degrees Celsius, five notches above the normal and the highest this year so far. The capital saw the maximum temperatures rise to 46.8 degrees Celsius at Ayanagar, 46.4 degrees Celsius at Palam and 45.8 degrees Celsius at Lodhi Road.
Neighbouring Gurugram in Haryana witnessed a scalding temperature of 48.1 degrees Celsius, the highest since May 10, 1966, when the city logged 49 degrees Celsius. Apart from Gurugram, Hisar saw a high of 47.3 degrees Celsius. Severe heatwave also prevailed in Sirsa, which recorded a high of 47.2 deg C while Rohtak recorded a maximum of 46.7 deg C. Bhiwani experienced a high of 46 degrees Celsius. Ambala's highest temperature during the day was 42.1 deg C while Karnal's maximum settled at 42.4 deg C.
In Punjab, Muktsar reeled under extremely hot weather, recording a day temperature of 47.4 degrees Celsius. Intense heatwave also prevailed in Bathinda, which recorded a high of 46.8 deg C while Amritsar sweltered under severe heat at 46.1 deg C. Ludhiana recorded a high of 45.5 deg C while Patiala's maximum settled at 44.3 deg C. Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur, too, experienced hot weather, recording respective maximum temperatures of 46.2 deg C and 46.1 deg C. Moga recorded a high of 46.1 deg C while Ferozepur sizzled at a high of 46.9 deg C.
Chandigarh, the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, braved yet another hot day, with the maximum settling at 43 deg C.
IMD predicts thunderstorm today
Meanwhile, the weather office forecast some relief from Monday onwards. The IMD said a thunderstorm or a dust storm is likely in the national capital and other states on Monday. The weather is likely to be dry during the next 24 hours; light rain is anticipated at isolated places in the subsequent 48 hours, it said.
Dust storms and thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are likely at isolated places on May 16 and 17 in Punjab and Haryana, the weather office said.
Though heatwave conditions are likely to prevail at many places during the next 24 hours, there could be a fall by two to four degrees in the two states thereafter, it said.
Weather forecasters said a cyclonic circulation over Punjab and Haryana will induce pre-monsoon activity that will provide some relief from the intense heat on Monday and Tuesday.
A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius and at least 4.5 notches above the normal. A severe heatwave is declared if the departure from normal temperature is more than 6.4 notches, according to the IMD. Based on absolute recorded temperatures, a heatwave is declared when an area logs a maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius. A severe heatwave is declared if the maximum temperature crosses the 47-degree Celsius mark.
(With PTI Inputs)
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