Delhi records hottest July day in nine years, heatwave alert issued for Friday

Delhi witnessed heatwave conditions for the third consecutive day on Thursday as the mercury shot up to 43.1 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological department said. This was the hottest July day in the national Capital since July 2, 2012, when the city had recorded a maximum temperature of 43.5 degrees Celsius, according to PTI.

For Friday, the weather department has issued a heatwave alert for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, east and west Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Thunderstorms with lightning is expected at isolated places in these regions.

India Meteorological Department Director Mrutunjay Mohapatra said the intensity and area coverage of the heatwave could decrease after Friday due to the south-westerly winds from the Arabian Sea. The humidity will, however, remain high.

Mohapatra added that there was no chance of monsoon rains in Delhi and the neighbouring areas till July 7.

He said the progress of monsoon has stalled since June 19 and the “break” is likely to continue till the second week of July, resulting in heatwave conditions in western and central India, reported The Indian Express.

“Till the time that the monsoon break happened, the monsoon had already covered most parts of the country, except parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi,” the weather department chief said. “From July 7, there is likely to…

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