Heatwave conditions occur when the maximum temperature is 4.5 degrees or more above the normal temperature, reaching at least 45 degrees Celsius, according to the Met Department.
The national capital on Saturday morning recorded a minimum temperature of 27.1 degrees Celsius, 0.6 notch above the season’s average.
On Friday, IMD issued a warning for heatwave to severe heatwave conditions expected to prevail in many parts of the country on May 18.
In a tweet on X, IMD said, “Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions very likely in many pockets of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, West Rajasthan and few pockets of East Rajasthan. Heatwave conditions very likely in few/isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Saurashtra & Kutch, on 18th May, 2024.”
The mercury could soar to 45 degrees Celsius in the national capital by Saturday, said IMD.Earlier, while speaking to ANI, senior IMD scientist Dr Naresh Kumar said, “..From April till the last few days, continuous western disturbances were influencing Northwest India, due to which parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand experienced isolated rainfall. Due to this, the temperatures were not very high. In May, the temperature reached 45 degrees Celsius in many places. Even today, the temperature has already reached 45 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan,” he said.The humidity level was 39 per cent at 8.30 am.
On Friday, Delhi witnessed 47.4 degrees Celsius in Najafgarh, making it the hottest place in the country.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the ‘poor’ category with a reading of 248 at 9 am, 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.
