Delhi recorded highest temp in March on Monday since 1945, says IMD

Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD''s regional forecasting centre said that the Safdarjung Observatory recorded the maximum temperature eight notches above normal.

Delhi on Monday recorded the maximum temperature that soared upto 40.1 degrees Celsius and made it the hottest day in March in 76 years, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the IMD''s regional forecasting centre said that the Safdarjung Observatory recorded the maximum temperature eight notches above normal. The Safdarjung Observatory provides representative data for the city.

"It was the hottest day in March since March 31, 1945, when Delhi recorded a maximum of 40.5 degrees Celsius," Mr Srivastava said. He added that low wind speed and plenty of sun due to clear skies over the last three to four days had led to high temperatures. The minimum temperature of the national capital settled three notches above normal, that is, 20.6 degrees Celsius.

The IMD said that the weather stations at Najafgarh, Narela, Pitampura and Pusa recorded maximum temperatures of 41.8 degrees Celsius, 41.7 degrees Celsius, 41.6 degrees Celsius, and 41.5 degrees Celsius respectively. Mr Srivastava also said that strong winds, gusting up to 35 kilometres per hour, will bring the maximum temperature down to around 38 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.