India Meteorological Department (IMD) highlighted that the extreme heat was largely due to hot winds from Rajasthan hitting the city's outskirts. The recorded temperature was over nine degrees above the expected levels.
Adding to the discomfort, brief rains in Delhi on Wednesday evening are expected to increase humidity levels. The IMD has issued a red alert for the city, warning its over 30 million residents of all age groups to keep at home. The rapid increase in temperatures is always likely to cause heatstroke and other ailments.
Other regions also reported extreme temperatures, with Phalodi in Rajasthan recording 51 degrees Celsius and Sirsa in Haryana hitting 50.3 degrees Celsius.
There is a slight decrease in temperature in parts of southern Rajasthan, including Barmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Sirohi, and Jalore, due to moist winds from the Arabian Sea, suggesting the beginning of a reduction in the heatwave across northwest India.
This record-breaking heat is a warning against the growing impact of climate change, which has been linked to more frequent, intense, and prolonged heatwaves.
The automatic weather station at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Mungeshpur, located about 50 km north of Delhi’s city center, has consistently recorded the city’s highest temperatures in recent days, highlighting the severity of this year's heatwave.
