Hottest May 1 in five years as temp touches 44.2 C

May started off on a torrid note for the Capital with the maximum temperature touching 44.2 degrees Celsius.

May started off on a torrid note for the Capital with the maximum temperature touching 44.2 degrees Celsius.

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Friday was not only the hottest day of 2009 so far but also the hottest

May 1 in the last five years.

Not a record

Although the afternoon temperature on Friday was five degrees above normal, it wasn’t the hottest May day ever Met officials said a high of 47.2 degrees had been recorded in May, 1944.

“The heat can be attributed to the warm winds blowing in from Rajasthan and Pakistan,” said SC Bhan, director of India Meteorological Department. Met officials foresee no respite from the heat wave even over the weekend.

Power starved

The heat sent Delhiites on a power-guzzling spree and the day also registered the highest peak power demand this season at 3,769 MW.

The government’s assurance of Thursday, that it had arranged for 579 MW of additional power to tide over the shortage, came to naught.

Schools closed

Due to the heat, some private schools — Delhi Public School, RK Puram; Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar and Summer Fields School, Kailash Colony — decided to close early for summer vacation.

Federation of Public Schools, which represents 300-odd private schools, will also meet on Saturday to take a final call on advancing the summer break.