New Delhi, June 04: The heat wave sweeping northern India is likely to abate in a day or two owing to moist south westerly winds, the weather department said today. "Conditions are favourable for dust storms over Delhi and nearby areas. We are expecting a fall in temperature," Dr R D Singh from the Indian Meteorology Department said.

Moist south westerly winds are pumping moisture from the Arabian Sea to this region including Delhi, Haryana, west Rajasthan and Punjab which will modulate temperature and bring dust storm. "Temperature will definitely come down if this trend continues," he said.

Already this afternoon Delhi recorded a temperature of 44.6 degrees Celsius in comparison to yesterday's 45 degree Celsius around the same time, he said. West Rajasthan has also shown a decrease in temperature.

Usually a maximum temperature is reached around 2.30 pm to 3.00 pm, but yesterday temperature had risen further after 3.30 pm to 45.6 degree Celsius.

IMD had declared heat wave conditions in Delhi yesterday.

If the temperature goes four-five degree Celsius above normal in Delhi, it is taken as heat wave condition, Singh said.

Last night was the hottest of the season with minimum temperature being 32.5 degree Celsius. Hottest day so far was on June 17, 1945 when mercury had risen to 46.7 degrees.

On reports that thermometers at different areas in the capital had been recording higher temperatures than declared by the IMD, he said weather department records temperatures under standard conditions prescribed by the World Meteorological Department.

Bureau Report