Parts of Delhi sizzle at 46 degree Celsius, no respite over the weekend

NEW DELHI: The maximum temperature soared further on Friday in several areas in Delhi, with parts of the city sizzling at 46.1 degrees Celsius. Several areas saw isolated heatwaves and severe heatwaves as well. The weather department expects the mercury to soar further for the next two days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), at Safdarjung, the maximum temperature was recorded at 42.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above the season’s average — the same as a day earlier. On Friday, the minimum temperature was recorded at 28.1 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season’s average, against 29.5 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The humidity at Safdarjung oscillated between 69% and 29 %.
At 46.1 degrees Celsius, six notches above the season’s average, Najafgarh was the warmest part of Delhi, followed by 45.6 degrees Celsius at Jafarpur and 45.4 degrees Celsius at Mungeshpur. It was 44.7 degrees Celsius at Pitampura and Ayanagar sizzled at 44 degrees Celsius — all four to six notches above the season’s average.
According to the weather analysts, the earliest possible respite is likely on Monday, with a marginal drop in daytime mercury.
“Saturday and Sunday will see a further rise in the maximum temperatures due to warm and dry and hot northwesterly winds. From Monday onwards, there are chances of some respite. There might be some dust storm activity in parts of Punjab and Haryana, which will lead to some relief from heat in Delhi-NCR, but the temperatures will remain above normal,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice-chairman, meteorology and climate change, Skymet.
According to the weather department, the maximum and minimum temperature on Saturday may hover around 44 and 30 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the air quality of the city remained moderate. On Friday, the Air Quality Index (AQI), on a scale of 0 to 500, was recorded at 176 against 164 a day earlier.
“For the next three days (May 14 to 16), AQI is likely to be within moderate or upper end of satisfactory zone,” said a statement from SAFAR.