Delhi Continues To Suffer Due To Heat Wave, No Rains Before Next Week; Stay Home If You Can

Summer is showing its might across most parts of North India, including the national capital.

On Wednesday, a severe heat wave swept the national capital, with the mercury soaring to 43.5 degrees Celsius, the highest recorded this year so far, the India Meteorological Department said.

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The maximum temperature recorded at the Safdarjung Observatory, the official marker for the city, was seven notches above normal, weather officials said.

What is a heat wave?

A "heat wave" is declared when the maximum temperature is more than 40 degrees Celsius, and at least 4.5 notches above normal.

A "severe" heat wave is declared if departure from normal temperature is more than 6.5 degrees Celsius, according to the IMD.

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On Monday, Delhi recorded the first heat wave this summer with the mercury levels increasing to 43 degrees Celsius.

Though light rainfall and dust storm on Friday are likely to bring the mercury below the 40 degrees mark, the arrival of the monsoon in Delhi won't happen before 7th of July.

¡°Usually, the capital witnesses heat waves till June 20 and cooler temperatures thereafter. The increase in the maximum temperature this time can be attributed to the delay in the arrival of the monsoon,¡± said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of IMD's regional forecasting centre.

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There has been no rainfall in the last few days and warm westerly winds are blowing across a major part of northwest India, which has not been covered by the monsoon yet, he said.

Last month, the IMD had initially predicted an early onset of monsoon, by the second week of June, which would have been a record.

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Normally, monsoon reaches Delhi by June 27 and covers the entire country by July 8. Last year, the wind system had reached Delhi on June 25 and covered the entire country by June 29.

However, westerly winds have been blocking its advance into Delhi, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.