Delhi felt 53.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. Here’s why the IMD still hasn’t declared a heat wave | Today’s news
Delhi witnessed another steamy day on Tuesday as rising humidity pushed the capital’s temperature, also known as heat index, to 53.5 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm.
Despite the sweltering conditions, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the city did not officially qualify for a heat wave as the required meteorological criteria were not met.
The maximum temperature at Safdarjung, Delhi’s base meteorological station, settled at 40.5 degrees Celsius, which was 3.1 degrees above normal.
Temperatures were above normal in other parts of the capital as well. Palam recorded 41 degrees Celsius, 3.2 degrees above normal, while Lodhi Road recorded 40.1 degrees Celsius, also 3.1 degrees above normal.
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The Ridge weather station was the hottest in the city, recording 41.5 degrees Celsius, 4.8 degrees above normal. Ayanagar recorded a maximum of 40.1 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees above normal.
Why didn’t the IMD declare a heat wave
Although residents of Delhi experienced intense heat and uncomfortable humidity throughout the day, the IMD clarified that the capital did not meet the conditions required to declare a heat wave.
“According to the data received so far, only one station in Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi sub-division has fulfilled the heat wave criteria. No heat wave has materialized in Delhi today as we need at least two stations over the Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi sub-division to fulfill the heat wave criteria,” the Met department said.
An IMD heat wave declaration depends not only on temperatures, but also on how many meteorological stations in the region record conditions that meet the prescribed threshold.
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Trace Rainfall Recorded In Parts Of Delhi
According to the IMD, only trace amounts of rainfall were recorded in parts of the capital.
Till 8:30 AM, Safdarjung, Palam, Lodhi Road and Ayanagar reported traces of rainfall while Ridge did not receive any.
Between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, traces of rainfall were reported in Palam and Ayanagar, while Safdarjung, Lodhi Road and Ridge remained dry.
Night temperatures also remained above normal.
Safdarjung and Palam recorded minimum temperatures of 30.2 degrees Celsius, while Lodhi Road and Ayanagar recorded 31.2 degrees Celsius, well above the seasonal average. Ridge recorded a minimum temperature of 29.3 degrees Celsius.
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Why Delhi is hotter than the thermometer indicates
Weather experts say a combination of dry and wet winds is behind the unusually high heat index.
According to Skymet’s Mahesh Palawat, dry westerly winds coming from Pakistan keep daytime temperatures elevated while southwesterly winds from the Arabian Sea add moisture to the atmosphere.
“When these dry and moist air masses interact, clouds form, but there is not enough moisture for widespread rain. By the time cloud formation occurs, usually around 4 or 5 pm, the maximum temperature of the day has already been recorded. That is why both the maximum temperature and the ‘feel’ temperature remained unusually high,” Palawat told PTI.
The interaction between hot, dry air and increasing humidity results in weather conditions that are significantly warmer than the actual air temperature, making outdoor conditions particularly uncomfortable even without an officially declared heat wave.
While the maximum temperature remained around 40-41 degrees Celsius in most parts of the city, the high humidity pushed the heat index much higher, increasing the body’s perception of heat and making conditions much more oppressive for residents.
