Expect heatwave today in Gurgaon but showers may bring mercury down in 2 days

GURGAON: Maximum temperature touched the 40-degree Celsius mark for the second consecutive day as the Met department said the region was in the grip of a heatwave.
Gurgaon recorded 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, marginally lower than 40.6 degrees Celsius the day before - the first time it breached into 40s this season. Minimum temperature was 21 degrees Celsius, a notch above Saturday's.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued 'yellow' alert for heatwave in the region for Monday. A heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius and at least 4.5 notches above normal. A severe heat wave is declared if the departure from normal temperature is more than 6.4 degrees, according to IMD.
Relief from the heat is likely to come from April 18 due to the effect of western disturbances. "The region is under spell of a heat wave and the western disturbance is likely to bring in some relief from April 18 to 21. Region is likely to witness light-to-moderate rainfall with thunderstorm and lightning," said Manmohan Singh, director of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD).
Last year, the city's highest maximum temperature was recorded at 45.9 degree Celsius on April 30. In 2021, it was 44.3 degree Celsius on April 29.
On Sunday, Hisar district recorded the state's highest temperature, at 43.1 degrees Celsius.
The city's air quality index (AQI) on Wednesday was at 231 (poor). According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), "The predominant surface wind is likely to be coming from West directions in Delhi-NCR with wind speed 8-10 kmph on Sunday and thus the air quality is likely to remain in poor category for the next three days."
GURGAONAccording to guidelines issued by the Central Pollution Control Board, when AQI is 'poor', breathing discomfort can be felt by most people with prolonged exposure. People who are unusually sensitive to ozone or particle pollution may experience respiratory symptoms.
Meanwhile in Delhi, rain in several parts of the capital brought respite from the heat while many areas recorded a high daytime temperature on Sunday, according to the weather office. Parts of South Delhi, Southwest Delhi and Central Delhi received rain on Sunday evening, officials said, predicting very light to light rain for the next four days.
According to IMD, the maximum temperature on Sunday was recorded at 40.4 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, at Safdarjung which is the city's base station. The minimum temperature was reported at 22 degrees Celsius.The relative humidity oscillated between 21% and 57%.
There weren't any heatwave conditions in the capital on Sunday, Met officials said.
"The supply of moisture from the Arabian Sea, high temperature, and localised activity led to rain. There is a possibility of very light rain on Monday and Tuesday due to the localised activity," said Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist and head, regional weather forecasting centre, IMD.
"Rain activity may intensify on April 19 and 20. Thunderstorms and light rain are likely on Wednesday and Thursday under the influence of a western disturbance. Rain is expected to bring down the mercury levels. However, heatwave conditions are unlikely for the next four to five days."
The day temperature is likely to hover around 39 degrees Celsius on Monday and Tuesday. It may dip further to 37 degrees Celsius on Wednesday and Thursday, Met has predicted.