The national capital of Delhi continues to grapple with a relentless onslaught of scorching heat exacerbated by surging humidity levels, as the ‘real feel’ temperature soared to a staggering 50°C on Thursday.
Despite a marginal drop of 2.4 degrees in the maximum temperature, the city’s inhabitants found little respite from the sweltering conditions, with meteorological experts predicting persistent discomfort in the foreseeable future. Humidity levels fluctuated between 39% and 62%, intensifying the perceptible heat and contributing to a heat index (HI) or “real feel” of 50°C, marking the second consecutive day where the temperature surpassed the 50-degree mark. While Thursday’s thermometer high stood at 41°C, a decline from the previous day’s 43.4°C, the combination of heat and humidity continues to pose significant health risks to residents, impairing the body’s natural cooling mechanism through sweating. In addition to the heat index, experts underscored the significance of wet-bulb temperature, a critical indicator of outdoor conditions. With Thursday’s wet-bulb temperature hovering close to 31.8°C, individuals faced an increased risk of adverse health effects, highlighting the severity of the prevailing weather conditions.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), moisture-laden easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal are expected to persist until Saturday afternoon, preceding a transition to dry westerly winds from Rajasthan. This meteorological shift may exacerbate heatwave conditions in isolated pockets of Delhi, prompting the IMD to issue an “orange alert” for Saturday and the subsequent days. The IMD’s data underscored the significance of humidity in amplifying heat-related risks, with the highest heat index recorded during humid conditions surpassing 50°C. As the city braces for warmer nights, with minimum temperatures hovering around 31°C until Sunday, residents are advised to exercise caution and adhere to precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the ongoing heatwave.
