Delhi on Wednesday experienced a severe heatwave with the maximum temperature settling at 43.5 degrees Celsius, which is seven degrees abov...

Delhi on Wednesday experienced a severe heatwave with the maximum temperature settling at 43.5 degrees Celsius, which is seven degrees above normal for the season, PTI reported. It is also the highest recorded temperature this year so far, warmer than 43 degrees Celsius recorded on Tuesday.
For the plains, a heatwave is declared when the maximum temperature goes up to 40 degrees Celsius or more and is least at 4.5 degrees above normal.
“Usually, the capital witnesses heatwaves till June 20 and cooler temperatures thereafter,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the India Meteorological Department’s regional forecasting centre. “The increase in the maximum temperature this time can be attributed to the delay in the arrival of the monsoon.”
The weather department said the monsoon, which usually hits Delhi by June 27, is at least a week away. The last time the monsoon arrived so late in Delhi was on July 7, 2012.
Light rainfall and dust storm on Friday is likely to bring the mercury below 40 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the city’s power demand soared to 6,921 mega watt – the highest this year, the Hindustan Times reported.
“Wednesday’s demand crossed the season’s previous peak of 6,592 MW, recorded on Tuesday,” said a senior power department official. “In fact, the peak power demand has increased by around 5% in...