Mercury rises to 44.6 degrees in Delhi, relief likely from Tuesday night

The capital enjoyed fairly tolerable weather last week because of light rain. The forecast says dust storms will occur from Tuesday night, and light rain for two days thereafter.

A heat haze engulfed roads and a dry hot wind threatened to sap out every ounce of body fluid on Sunday as the mercury touched 44.6 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, in the city reeling under a heatwave.

Girls protect themselves with scarfs to avoid the heat on a hot sunny day in New Delhi on Sunday. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO)

This is the hottest day of the season, beating the 44.4 and 45.4 degrees Celsius recorded at the meteorological office’s Safdarjung and Palam observatories on May 15.

The Palam centre recorded 47 degrees Celsius on Sunday, this summer’s highest.

But the reading from Safdarjung is considered official. Last year’s highest was 44 degrees Celsius on May 3.

Gallery | Scarves, umbrellas come to Delhi people’s rescue as temp soars

Such high temperatures can cause sunstroke or heatstroke to residents out in the open, especially children making the most of their summer holidays in neighbourhood parks. Health experts advise people to drink plenty of water and juices to avoid dehydration, which can be fatal sometimes.

But a weather official said a heatwave circulating over north India is causing the pain this weekend.

“An anti-cyclone has established over northwest India … this will gradually move eastward” and dissipate, he said. The hot spell will be short.

A cloudy sky is expected on Monday, with the maximum temperature predicted to be around 43 degrees Celsius.

The forecast says dust storms from Tuesday night, and light rain and thundershowers accompanied by squally winds for two days thereafter.

“The dust storm and thunderstorm will curb the heatwave. It will bring down the temperature a bit for a couple of days and provide relief,” the official said.