Pre-monsoon showers may give respite from heat in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Heatwave conditions are likely to subside as pre-monsoon showers are expected in the capital from Tuesday. The maximum temperature on Monday was 41.6 degrees Celsius — five notches above normal for this time of the season — with several areas recording a heatwave. The minimum was 30.6 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal.

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Palam was the capital’s hottest location with a maximum temperature of 43.4 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels oscillated between 37% and 59% in the last 24 hours. Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at the regional meteorological department, said easterly winds have begun blowing towards the capital, with monsoon likely to arrive by the end of the week.


“A light drizzle in some areas is expected. The impact of the easterly winds will increase from Wednesday, bringing in more rainfall, said Srivastava. “Depending on the intensity of the rain, monsoon may be declared by the end of the week”.

Delhi has been recording heatwave conditions for the past two days, with temperatures going up to almost 45 degrees Celsius in some areas. A heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature of a location is more than 4 degrees above normal.

The capital’s air quality was in the “moderate” range on Monday, with an air quality index of 183. SAFAR, a body under the ministry of earth sciences, has forecast an improvement in air quality in the next two days due to the incoming rain.