After a hot week, dust storm brings down mercury level in Delhi

A dust storm in Delhi on Thursday evening brought respite for residents from scorching heat, with the mercury dropping several notches. The maximum temperature in the national capital dropped from 42.6 degrees Celsius at 5.30 pm to 33.8 degrees Celsius at 8.30 pm, the India Meteorological Department said.

According to private weather forecaster, Skymet Weather, the city's maximum temperature fell from 43 degrees Celsius at 6.30 pm to 36 degrees Celsius at 7.30 pm.

Delhi reeled under heatwave conditions in the last week of May, though maximum temperatures declined slightly due to the easterly and southeasterly winds in northwest India from June 1.

However, the mercury rose again over the last two-three days due to the continuous dry spell in the region, according to Skymet Weather.

Earlier on Thursday, the Safdarjung Observatory recorded a high of 43.9 degrees Celsius and a low of 28.6 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels oscillated between 19 and 66 percent.

Read: Weather Department Predicts Date Of Monsoon Arrival In India, Says Rainfall Expected To Be "below Normal" In North And South

The weather stations at Palam, Delhi Ridge and Ayanagar recorded maximum temperatures at 45.3, 45.2 and 45 degrees Celsius, respectively.

In large areas, a heatwave is declared when the mercury touches the 45-degree mark for two consecutive days and a severe heatwave is when the temperature soars to 47 degrees Celsius for two days on the trot, an IMD official said.

In small areas, like the national capital, a heatwave is declared if the maximum temperature is recorded at 45 degrees Celsius even for a day, he said. 

The weatherman has forecast partly cloudy skies and heat wave conditions at isolated pockets in the city on Friday. Maximum and minimum temperatures will hover around 44 and 28 degrees Celsius, respectively.