The maximum temperature recorded in Delhi on Saturday was 40.2 degrees Celsius, which is 1.6 degrees more than normal. There was a hot and humid atmosphere in the city amid the possibility of delay in the arrival of south-west monsoon. The Meteorological Department has said that there may be very light rain with thunder in some areas of the city during the night.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted generally cloudy sky and rain with thunder for Sunday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 39 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius respectively. Data from different stations showed that the maximum temperature recorded at Palam on Saturday was 39.9 degrees Celsius, which was 0.9 degrees above normal, while the temperature at Lodhi Road was recorded at 40.1 degrees Celsius, which was 2.1 degrees above normal.

The Ridge weather station recorded a temperature of 41.1 degrees Celsius, which was 0.2 degrees above normal, and Ayanagar recorded 40.4 degrees Celsius, which was 0.8 degrees below normal. According to IMD, the minimum temperature at Safdarjung Observatory, the main center of the city, was recorded at 28.7 degrees Celsius, which was 0.7 degrees above normal.

The minimum temperature recorded in Palam was 26.5 degrees Celsius, which is 1.5 degrees below normal. The temperature in Lodhi Road is 27 degrees Celsius, which is one degree less than normal. The temperature in Ridge was recorded at 26 degrees Celsius which is 2.5 degrees below normal and the temperature in Ayanagar was 27.7 degrees Celsius which is 0.2 degrees below normal.

Will have to wait for monsoon till first week of July

This year, Delhi may have to wait till the first week of July for the arrival of south-west monsoon, whereas usually the moon moon hits the national capital by June 27. Weather experts say that the reason for this delay is the absence of favorable weather systems that usually help the rain-bringing winds move towards north-west India.

Delhi’s air quality in moderate category

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category and the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 132 in the evening. According to CPCB, AQI between 0 to 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.