Delhi residents miss the pleasant days of spring season as intense heat after chilly winter has engulfed the capital. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the temperature across Delhi is expected to rise further till 11 March.
Safdarjung, the primary weather station in national capital on Sunday recorded a maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius, 7.2 notches above the seasonal average of 28.4. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature on 8 March was 2.7 notches above normal as it settled at 16.7 degrees Celsius.
The weather office forecasted partly cloudy sky for Monday. The maximum temperature over Delhi is likely to be in the range of 36 to 38 degrees Celsius, appreciably above normal by round 7.6°C to 10.4°C. At the same time, minimum temperature is likely to be in the range of 16 to 18 degrees Celsius, appreciably above normal by round 2°C to 4°C. The maximum temperature is expected to spike further and hit 39 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 11 March.
National capital records hottest March in 50 years
On Saturday, the city recorded the hottest day in the first week of March in the last 50 years, with the day temperature soaring as high as 35.7 degrees Celsius. IMD official on Sunday said, “A gradual rise of 3-4°C in maximum temperatures is expected over the next seven days,” Hindustan Times reported. He further noted that surface winds will remain between 15-25 km/hr till Thursday.
Since 2011, the second-highest temperature reading of 33.6 degrees Celsius during the first week of March was recorded on 4 March 2016, IMD data shows.
IMD in its latest weather bulletin said, “Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions very likely to continue in isolated pockets over Himachal Pradesh on 08th & 09th March. Heat wave conditions likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Vidarbha during 08th to 12th; West Rajasthan and Saurashtra & Kutch during 08th to 10th; North Gujarat Region on 09th & 10th March and Marathwada on 10th & 11th. “March.”
Delhi weather forecast for next five days
IMD’s weather projection indicates that day temperatures are likely to remain above normal by 3-5°C over parts of plains of Northwest India during next 3 days till 10 March while in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh it is likely to remain above normal by 5-8°C.
In the coming week, the maximum temperature has been predicted to settle anywhere between 35 and 39 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature is expected to hover round between 15 and 9 degrees Celsius.
According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the air quality in the national capital continues to be in the ‘poor’ category at 9:00 am, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 207.
