Delhi Reels Under Extreme Heat, Feels-Like Temperature Hits 48.2°C

Delhi continued to reel under extreme heat on Wednesday, with the feels-like temperature soaring to 48.2 degrees Celsius against an actual temperature of 41.4 degrees at noon due to high humidity. While India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for rain on Thursday, relief may be limited as humid conditions are expected to keep the heat index uncomfortably high. On Wednesday, the maximum temperature was 42.4 degrees Celsius, 2.5 notches below normal, against 43.5 degrees Celsius a day earlier. At 43.6 degrees Celsius, Ridge and Palam were the hottest areas in the city. The minimum temperature, due to 9.6mm rain on Tuesday night after strong winds and later clear skies, dropped by more than five degrees and settled at 22.9 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal, against 29.2 degrees a day earlier. On Wednesday, no rain was observed till late evening, despite Met issuing a yellow alert for rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds. IMD expects a slight drop in the temperatures and an orange alert has been issued for Thursday, with thunderstorms, rain and strong winds. “The western disturbance persists,” IMD stated, forecasting no significant change in maximum temperatures during the next 24 hours and a fall by six-seven degrees till Friday. Thereafter, it’s likely to rise by two-four degrees. The Met department has also predicted a rise of two-three degrees in minimum temperatures during the next 24 hours and a fall of four-five degrees till Saturday, followed by another rise of two-three degrees. The maximum temperature on Thursday is expected to be 40-42 degrees Celsius, which will drop to 34-35 degrees Celsius by Friday. Meanwhile, the air quality remained moderate. The air quality index, on a scale of 0 to 500, was 169 against 164 on Tuesday.