NEW DELHI: Delhi witnessed a hotter Thursday with the temperature soaring to 42 degrees Celsius. However, the MeT department predicted dust storm in the evening. The Safdarjung observatory recorded its maximum at 42 degrees Celsius which was the highest of the season, Palam was a step ahead as the mercury here settled at a whopping 43.1 degrees which are also the highest this season.
"The sky will be partly cloudy with the possibility of a dust storm or thunderstorm towards afternoon or evening which is likely to bring down the temperature on Friday," a Meteorological Department official said.
He added that currently, a Western Disturbance is approaching Jammu and Kashmir. Its induced cyclonic circulation is over North Rajasthan and adjoining Punjab region. A trough is also extending from this system southeastwards across Haryana, Delhi, and further towards West Uttar Pradesh. "These systems are expected to influence the wind pattern which will change to southeasterly which will be moist in nature. Thus, along with the increase in temperatures, the humidity will also increase which is an ideal combination for inducing some weather activity. Thus, it will result in some dust storm, thunderstorm activity over Delhi and adjoining areas of Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad," said the official.s
He added that this weather activity is expected to commence Thursday night itself and will continue until Friday as well. Due to this, mercury is expected to take a dip by about two to four degrees. April 29 onward, temperatures will once again increase. Thus, April is expected to end on a hotter note.
According to met officials, Palam was the hottest across the Capital on Wednesday with a maximum of 43.1 degrees Celsius, however other locations recorded similar season highs. The Ridge station recorded a maximum of 42.6 degrees C, while Ayanagar had a high of 42.4 degrees C, officials said. The capital's hottest day of the season prior to this day was recorded on April 16 when the maximum touched 40 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, while Palam was 41.6 degrees. The MeT department in its annual summer forecast recently had said that while temperatures in the months of April, May, June and July are expected to be above normal for the season, it is not likely to be as hot as last year. The capital had recorded a maximum of 43.2 degrees Celsius last year in April at Safdarjung.