New Delhi: The relentless summer sun did
not spare Delhiites for yet another day today as the maximum
temperature hovered around 43 degree celsius, slightly lesser
than yesterday, while the minimum touched a 41-year-old high
crossing 30 degrees.
A day after the maximum rose to a 52-year-old high at
43.7 degrees, it dropped to 43 degrees during the day but the
minimum rose by 4.1 degrees to touch 30.6 degrees in the
morning hours.
"The minimum crossed 30 degree Celsius mark in the
month of April for the first time since 1969. We have records
since 1969 for the higher value of minimum. Never it had
touched this high," B P Yadav, Director of Indian
Meteorological Department, said.
While today`s maximum was seven degrees above normal
for this time of year, the minimum was ten degrees above
normal.
"There was some moisture in the atmosphere in the
morning hours. The western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir
as well as south-westerlies blowing across the city brought
the moisture to the capital.
"Therefore, it was hot in the morning and the minimum
increased due to the cloud cover," Yadav said.
Delhi has been in the grip of an unprecedented heat
wave for the past 11 days with the maximum hovering above 40
degree celsius.
Last year, the maximum temperature in April had
touched 43.5 degrees. The all-time record for April was on the
29th day in 1941 when the mercury touched 45.6 degree celsius.
The mean temperature for the month of April is 36.2
degree celsius (maximum) and 21.5 degrees (minimum).
Yesterday, the mercury touched a high of 43.7 degree
celsius while the minimum was recorded at 26.5 degrees.
The temperature has been rising steadily since the
beginning of this month.
Delhiites also experienced unusually hot days last
month, which the MeT Department said was the second warmest
March for the city since 1901.
The mercury had touched 39.2 degree celsius on March
21 this year which was the second highest maximum temperature
in the month of March in the past 65 years.
PTI
