Delhi heatwave alert: Temperature to rise sharply over next 3 days, may cross 40°C mark

NEW DELHI: Brace yourself, as heatwave conditions are expected to grip the city, with temperatures likely to exceed 40 degrees Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). A 'yellow' (be aware) alert has been issued for heatwave conditions from Monday to Wednesday.
The IMD defines a heatwave day when the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees or more above the normal temperature, and the maximum is at least 40 degrees Celsius. A heatwave is also considered if the maximum temperature reaches 45 degrees Celsius or above. A 'severe' heatwave is declared when the maximum is 6.5 degrees or more above normal.
The day temperature has started rising in the city. The maximum temperature on Sunday was 38.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, at Safdarjung, which is the city's base station. It was 35.7 degrees Celsius a day earlier. However, the Ridge observatory in north Delhi was the hottest station on Sunday at 39.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Pitampura at 38.9 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature on Sunday was 18.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal. The mercury is likely to stay between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday. "As the day temperature is likely to show a rising trend, heatwave conditions are likely in the city," said a Met official.
Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Skymet Meteorology, said, "Warm and light south-easterly winds are likely to blow in the city over the next two to three days. Due to bright sunshine, light and warm winds, the mercury is expected to rise." He added that the mercury may dip from April 10 due to cloudiness under the influence of a western disturbance.
Though mercury crossed 40 degrees Celsius in parts of Delhi this season, the maximum temperature stayed below 40 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung this year so far.
IMD's data from the past year shows that heatwave conditions mostly occur during the period from mid-April to the first week of June. Though no heatwave was recorded in April last year at Safdarjung, five such days were seen in May 2024. No heatwave was witnessed in April 2023 but Delhiites experienced nine heatwave days in April 2022.
Delhi's air quality, meanwhile, worsened to the ‘poor' category on Sunday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) was 209 on Sunday compared to 163 in the ‘moderate' range on Saturday. The air quality is likely to remain ‘poor' till April 8 and may turn ‘moderate' on April 9, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, which is the forecasting body under the union ministry of earth sciences.