New Delhi is bracing for the return of heatwave conditions as temperatures are expected to soar from Monday onwards. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted a significant rise in temperatures accompanied by dust storms, marking the end of the brief respite from the sweltering heat.
Current Weather Conditions
On Friday, the city saw a slight increase in temperature but managed to avoid heatwave conditions for the second consecutive day. The maximum temperature at Safdarjung, the city’s primary weather station, climbed to 43 degrees Celsius, which is three degrees above the seasonal norm. This is a rise from the previous day’s 41.2 degrees Celsius.
Weekend Forecast
The IMD forecasts that Delhi’s maximum temperature will hover between 42-43 degrees Celsius over the weekend. There is also a possibility of dust storms and scattered rain showers in the Delhi-NCR region. Consequently, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for potential heatwave conditions on Monday and Tuesday.
The minimum temperature recorded was 28 degrees Celsius, close to the typical value for this time of year, and is expected to rise slightly to around 29 degrees Celsius over the weekend.
Recent Weather Events
Late on Thursday night, Delhi was struck by a dust storm with wind speeds peaking at 74 km/hr at Safdarjung around 11:30 PM. Early Friday morning continued to see strong winds ranging from 30-40 km/hr, a condition that is predicted to persist through the weekend. An IMD official indicated that the day would remain warm with gusty winds in the late evening and night, and there could be light drizzles in isolated parts of the city late on Saturday.
Changes in Wind Patterns
The relief from the heatwave on Thursday came after 12 consecutive days of intense heat, thanks to light rain and gusty winds on Wednesday night. This weather shift was further influenced by changing wind patterns. On Thursday, Delhi experienced northeasterly winds, which brought some moisture. By Friday, these winds had shifted to southwesterly and later to westerly. While easterly winds typically bring moisture, westerly winds are dry and originate from Rajasthan, contributing to the rising temperatures.
Air Quality Concerns
With the changing weather conditions, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) worsened, rising from 181 (moderate) to 254 (poor) in just one day. This deterioration in air quality adds another layer of discomfort for Delhi’s residents as they prepare for the impending heatwave.
