As parts of north India continue to grapple with a punishing heatwave, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted some relief for Delhi on Friday, with a possibility of thunderstorms and light rain or drizzle accompanying gusty winds.
However, the maximum temperature in the national capital is still expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius today. The weather department issued an orange alert, warning of severe heatwave, for the next five days in Delhi with a high of 45 degrees Celsius.
The brutal heat baking Uttar Pradesh will continue for another five days, the IMD said, and issued a red alert for the state as the mercury breached 46 degrees Celsius in numerous areas.
On Thursday, Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar experienced scorching temperatures, with Buxar in Bihar recording the highest in the country at 47.2 degrees Celsius. This is nearly 9 degrees Celsius above the normal maximum temperature for the season.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's official weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 44.8 degrees Celsius, 4.9 degrees above normal. The Najafgarh weather station recorded an even higher temperature of 45.1 degrees Celsius.
The slow progress of the southwest Monsoon has been blamed for the extended heatwave. The IMD reports a 4 per cent deficit in cumulative Monsoon rainfall across the country for the first 12 days of the season. The situation is particularly grim in northwest India, which has received 53 per cent less than normal rainfall.
In contrast, southern India received 60 per cent more rainfall than usual during the June 1-12 period.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. The weather department forecast conditions will become favourable for the further advancement of the Monsoon towards the end of the week, around June 19. This could bring much-needed relief from the searing temperatures in north India.
The monsoon is expected to arrive in Delhi by the end of the month, around June 27.
