Delhi has been in the grip of an unprecedented heat wave for the past 11 days with the maximum hovering above 40 degree Celsius.
A day after the maximum temperature rose to a 52-year high at 43.7 degrees, it dropped to 43 degrees during the day today but the minimum rose by 4.1 degrees to touch 30.6 degrees in the morning hours.
"The minimum crossed 30 degree Celsius mark in the month of April for the first time since 1969. We have records since 1969 for the higher value of minimum. Never had it touched this high," BP Yadav, director, Indian Meteorological Department, said.
While today's maximum was seven degree above normal for this time of year, the minimum was ten degrees above normal.
"There was some moisture in the atmosphere in the morning hours. The western disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir as well as south-westerlies blowing across the city brought the moisture to the capital.
"Therefore, it was hot in the morning and the minimum increased due to the cloud cover," Yadav explained.
Delhi has been in the grip of an unprecedented heat wave for the past 11 days with the maximum hovering above 40 degree Celsius.
Last year, the maximum temperature in April was 43.5 degrees. The all-time record for April was on the 29th day in 1941, when the mercury touched 45.6 degree Celsius.
The mean (average) temperature for the month of April is 36.2 degree Celsius (maximum) and 21.5 degrees (minimum).
Yesterday, the mercury touched a high of 42.9 degree Celsius while the minimum was recorded at 23.5 degrees.
The temperature has been rising steadily since the beginning of this month.
Delhiites also experienced unusually hot days last month, which the MeT department said was the second warmest March for the city since 1901.
The mercury had touched 39.2 degree Celsius on March 21 this year, which was the second highest maximum temperature in the month of March in the past 65 years.
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