Wednesday warmest day in Delhi this year; April hottest since 2012

NEW DELHI: Wednesday was Delhi's hottest day of the season so far, with the maximum temperature touching 41.6 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung, while Palam Observatory recorded mercury at 43.1 degrees Celsius.

Sources in the India Meteorological Department also noted that, since 2012, this was the hottest April in the Capital, where the temperature rose above 40 degree Celsius.

"In the past 10 years, 2012 was the only year that has not recorded day maximum above 40°C during the entire month of April," noted an official.

The official further said, "On Wednesday, the day temperatures crossed the 40-degree mark. As per the Palam Observatory, maximum temperature of the day was recorded at a whopping 43.1°C, while the Safdarjung Observatory also recorded the maximum at 41.6°C. Thus, the maximums recorded by both the observatories today are the highest of the season."

According to the Met Department, similar weather conditions are expected to follow for the next 24 hours.

Thereafter, mercury would take a dip again on Friday on account of change in wind pattern.

"Dry and hot north-westerly winds would be replaced with humid southeasterly that would lead to dropping in mercury on April 26. Not only this, there are chances of pre-monsoon activities, such as thunderstorms and dust storms, on April 27 that may further plunge the mercury," noted an official.

He further said that these activities would be observed during late evening hours of Friday and early morning of Saturday.

Thereafter, the weather will clear up but under its influence day, temperatures would not rise.

"Thus, by the time, mercury starts rising, we would have entered May," the official said.

Throughout April this year, day maximums have been rising, settling in the range of 35°C to 38°C.

There were also some occasions when mercury had reached 39°C, but there have been two occasions this month, including Wednesday, when day maximums settled above 40°C.