New Delhi:
Highs in Delhi are likely to hover around 40 degrees today and then begin to pick up as humid easterly winds give way to hot and dry westerly winds.
The minimum temperature was 28 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal.
A new heat wave was forecast over Delhi from Sunday, but the easterly wind that blew the capital under the impact of Cyclone Asani shielded the city from it.
The heat wave is likely to start on Friday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
“Eastern winds in the region under the influence of Cyclone Asani are keeping the mercury in check. Although the temperature in Delhi is not expected to rise rapidly in the coming days, the increase in humidity could cause discomfort,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president. president (meteorology and climate change), Skymet, a private weather forecasting agency.
“Without the easterly wind, temperatures would have risen to 46-47 degrees Celsius,” he said.
East winds will ease as the impact of severe Cyclone Asani wears off, Mr Palawat said.
Continuous rain, thunderstorms and strong winds provided some respite from last week’s intense heat.
Delhi had witnessed a hot and dry March, with zero rainfall against the normal 15.9mm. In April, 0.3 mm of precipitation fell against a monthly average of 12.2 mm.
A heat wave at the end of the month had sent temperatures soaring to 46 and 47 degrees Celsius in several parts of Delhi.
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