The national capital Delhi turned into a hot cauldron on Saturday as temperatures in parts of the city reached 47.2*C.
While the Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's base station, recorded a maximum temperature of 44.2*C, the mercury in Mungeshpur soared to an unbearable high of 47.2*C and 47*C at Najafgarh — at least seven notches above normal.
The maximum temperature at Safdarjung was also five notches above normal and the highest this season so far. It was 42.5*C on Friday.
Delhi saw the mercury rise to 46.9*C at Sports Complex, 46.4*C at Pitampura, 45.8*C at Jafarpur and 45.4*C at Ridge and Ayanagar.
Weather forecasters said the heatwave spell is set to worsen on Sunday. An "orange" alert has been issued to caution people about a severe heatwave on Sunday. The India Meteorological Deparment uses four colour codes for weather warnings — green (no action needed), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared) and red (take action).
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However, cloudy skies and thunder may provide some relief from the intense heat next week.
This is the fifth heatwave — one in March and three in April — in Delhi this summer season.
With scanty rainfall owing to feeble western disturbances, Delhi had recorded its second hottest April this year since 1951 with a monthly average maximum temperature of 40.2*C.
A heatwave at the end of the month had sent the mercury soaring to 46-47*C in several parts of the city.
The capital got a miniscule 0.3 mm of rainfall in April against a monthly average of 12.2 mm. March saw nil rainfall against a normal of 15.9 mm.
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The IMD had predicted above normal temperatures in May.
(With PTI inputs)
