Heatwave Grips Delhi: Temperature Likely to Touch 44°C, ‘Orange Alert’ Issued
National Desk: Large parts of North India are reeling under intense heat, with maximum temperatures consistently ranging between 40°C and 44°C over the past few days. The national capital, Delhi, is witnessing a sharp rise in temperature, further worsening conditions.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to reach around 44°C on Sunday. The minimum temperature was recorded at 26.2°C, which is 2.4 degrees below normal.
The IMD has forecast partly cloudy skies and warned of heatwave-like conditions in some areas by the evening, issuing an ‘Orange Alert’ for the city.
Humidity levels were recorded at 43% at 8:30 AM, adding to the discomfort. Meanwhile, air quality remains a concern. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 223 at 9 AM, placing it in the ‘poor’ category.
As per CPCB standards:
- AQI 0–50: Good
- AQI 51–100: Satisfactory
- AQI 101–200: Moderate
- AQI 201–300: Poor
- AQI 301–400: Very Poor
- AQI 401–500: Severe
Earlier, the IMD had predicted maximum temperatures between 40°C and 42°C for Saturday. CPCB data indicated that Delhi’s AQI was 243 (‘poor’) at 9 AM on Saturday, while the 24-hour average AQI till 4 PM on Friday stood at 226, also in the ‘poor’ category.
The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi has projected that AQI levels will likely remain in the ‘poor’ category over the weekend, with gradual improvement to the ‘moderate’ category in the following days.
