Delhi maximum temperature may hit 44°C, IMD issues yellow alert

Delhi temperature likely to reach 44 degree Celsius

The national capital on Friday recorded a high of 41.7 degrees Celsius, over a notch above the season's normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weather department issued a "yellow" alert for Saturday as it predicted the mercury to reach a maximum of 44 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 31 degrees Celsius.

The city recorded a low temperature of 30.8 degrees Celsius on Friday, which is four degrees above the season's normal. During the day, the relative humidity varied from 42% to 60%.

The IMD has forecast mostly clear skies on Saturday, with surface breezes reaching 25 to 35 km/h during the day. Additionally, it has forecast a warm night in remote locations.

However, there was no prediction for a heat wave.

A heat wave is declared when a weather station's highest temperature in the plains, coastal regions, and hilly regions hits at least 40 degrees Celsius, with a minimum deviation of 4.5 degrees from the mean.

If the deviation from average is greater than 6.4 notches, a severe heat wave is declared.

The national capital was under'red' or 'orange' warnings because of predicted heat waves in the preceding days, with maximum temperatures reaching approximately 45 degrees Celsius.

The highest temperature this summer was recorded on May 19 at 44.4 degrees Celsius, according to IMD data.