Welcome showers may follow scorching heat

For Delhiites, the heat is on, literally. The city recorded a maximum of 42.4 degree Celsius on Wednesday, the hottest day of the season, so far. But relief may be at hand as the weatherman has predicted rain and thunderstorms for Thursday and Friday.

For Delhiites, the heat is on, literally. The city recorded a maximum of 42.4 degree Celsius on Wednesday, the hottest day of the season, so far. But relief may be at hand as the weatherman has predicted rain and thunderstorms for Thursday and Friday.

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"Rain is usually seen when temperatures reach such highs. Since the temperature has been above 41 degrees for the past three days, continuously, we are expecting showers in many parts of the city," said a senior official at the India Meteorological Department.

On Wednesday, the maximum temperature was three degrees above normal and up from Tuesday's 42.2 degree Celsius. The minimum, meanwhile, was recorded at 27.6 degree Celsius, one degree above normal and up from Tuesday's 26.7 degrees.

“Going out in the sun is impossible in the afternoon,” said Rohini Tewari, a resident of South Extension II.

Though rains are expected, relief from the high temperatures is not. On Thursday, the mercury is likely to hover at 42 degrees. The minimum could be around 28 degrees.

Humidity oscillated between 18% and 57%. Last year, the maximum had touched 45.4 degrees Celsius on May 18, the highest in the past 10 years for the month. The record maximum for the month was 47.2 degrees, recorded on May 29, 1944.