No heatwave at Delhi's primary weather station for first time since 2014, say IMD officials

Delhi’s primary weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, has not recorded any heatwave in the pre-monsoon season for the first time since 2014, officials said on May 30.

Delhi's primary weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, has not recorded any heatwave in the pre-monsoon season for the first time since 2014, officials said on May 30.

A few isolated areas, however, witnessed heatwave conditions for a brief period in April and May, they said.

May, historically the hottest month in Delhi with a mean maximum temperature of 39.5°C, has recorded below-normal temperatures and excess rain this time.

Meteorologists attributed the phenomenon to higher-than-usual western disturbances — weather systems that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring unseasonal rainfall to northwest India — this pre-monsoon season (March to May).

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"Usually, five to six western disturbances are recorded in the northern plains in April and May. We saw 10 western disturbances, mostly strong ones, this time," said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the Regional Forecasting Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Delhi recorded maximum temperatures above the 40° mark for just nine days in May with heatwave conditions affecting some parts for two days.