This story is from June 8, 2023

This summer season, heatwave gives Delhi a miss, 1st in a decade

For the first time in a decade, Safdarjung, the city's base weather station, did not record a single heatwave day in the peak summer season. Heatwave conditions usually abate in the Delhi region by June 10 and Met officials said a heatwave is unlikely in the next seven days.
This summer season, heatwave gives Delhi a miss, 1st in a decade
Representative image
NEW DELHI: For the first time in a decade, Safdarjung, the city's base weather station, did not record a single heatwave day in the peak summer season. Heatwave conditions usually abate in the Delhi region by June 10 and Met officials said a heatwave is unlikely in the next seven days.
India Meteorological Department defines a heatwave as a condition when the maximum temperature is at least 40 degrees Celsius and 4.5 degrees or more above the normal temperature.
A heatwave also occurs when the maximum temperature touches 45 degrees Celsius. A severe heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature is 6.5 degrees or more above the normal.
delhi heatwave

Some stations like Ridge in north Delhi, Mungeshpur, Najafgarh and Sports Complex in CWG Village recorded heatwaves for three-four days, but such conditions weren't logged at Safdarjung, Lodhi Road, Palam and Ayanagar. The variation in temperature at some stations receiving warm and dry air from Rajasthan and Haryana caused the heatwaves.
In Delhi, most heatwave days occur between April and the first 10 days of June, which is the peak summer season. This year it was different. The first time when the mercury touched the 40-degree mark was on April 16 at 40.5 degrees Celsius. The temperature dipped below that mark on April 20. After a gap of 21 days, the heat again rose to 42.5 degrees Celsius on May 12 before falling to below 40 degrees Celsius on May 24. It has yet to touch 40 degrees Celsius since then.

Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist and head, Regional Weather Forecasting Centre, IMD, said, "Due to the influence of an active western disturbance, the city recorded rain, cloud and strong winds in the last week of April, first 10 days of May and the last week of May. This May saw five active western disturbances. These impacted the plains of north-west Delhi. Usually, two-three western disturbances affect the region in May."
On Wednesday, the weather in the city was warm and dry though the air quality index slipped to 239 (poor) from 139 (moderate) the previous day. "With the effect of western disturbances diminishing, the mercury will now rise gradually. However, gusty winds on Thursday and Friday could prevent a sharp rise in the temperature," said Srivastava.
The maximum temperature on Wednesday was 38.4 Celsius, two degrees above normal, but less than 39.5 degrees on Tuesday. The minimum temperature was 25.2 degrees, two below normal, contrasted with 23 degrees a day earlier. The humidity oscillated between 78% and 31%.
The maximum and minimum temperatures on Thursday are likely to be 40 and 26 degrees, respectively. The weather department expects the daytime temperature to reach up to 42 degrees Celsius over the next few days, but heatwave conditions are unlikely in the next seven days.
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