The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that temperatures in Delhi soared to a record-high of 51.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
The IMD recorded this temperature in the Delhi suburb of Mungeshpur, marking the first time the national capital has surpassed the 50-degree Celsius mark. Severe heat-wave conditions were reported.
Despite this, the weather agency predicts light rain or drizzle in isolated areas of Delhi. The national capital is expected to experience a partly cloudy sky, with a duststorm or thunderstorm accompanied by strong surface winds of 35-45 km/h during the day.
The Met Department forecasts that the severe heatwave conditions will gradually subside from May 30.
Delhi’s peak power demand reached an all-time high of 8,302 MW, according to DISCOM officials, surpassing the previous record set just a few days earlier. On May 22, the peak power demand hit 8,000 MW. For 12 consecutive days, Delhi’s peak power demand has exceeded 7,000 MW in 2024.
The IMD has issued a “red alert” for severe heatwave conditions in most parts of Haryana, Chandigarh-Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Heatwaves are also expected in isolated areas of Jammu, Vidarbha, and Chhattisgarh.
Heatwave conditions have been prevalent in Haryana, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan since May 17, and in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh since May 18.
“We are now into the second week of a persistent heatwave to severe heatwave in North-West India, with temperatures exceeding 47 degrees Celsius. We had issued a Red Alert,” stated IMD Scientist Dr. Naresh Kumar.
