NEW DELHI: Expect the mercury levels to go up in the national capital in the next two days. The maximum temperature may touch 38 degrees Celsius by Sunday, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD).
On Wednesday, the maximum temperature was 34.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. The humidity oscillated between 74% and 33%.
Met officials said the maximum temperature had dipped under the influence of a western disturbance and there would be a slight variation in mercury on Thursday. The maximum and minimum temperatures on Thursday will be around 33 and 17 degrees Celsius, respectively. Strong surface winds are also predicted.
Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at IMD and head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, said, “There would be a steep rise in temperatures in the next two days. However, there is no chance of a heatwave this month.”
For the first time this year, the maximum temperature is likely to touch 36 degrees Celsius on Friday. On Saturday, it may be around 37 degrees.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air improved to the ‘moderate’ category on Wednesday due to rain and strong winds. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital was 175 on Wednesday as against 244 in the ‘poor’ category on Tuesday.
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research said: “The dust contribution is likely to moderately increase in the next two-three days. AQI is likely to deteriorate to the ‘poor’ category on March 26 and 27.”