IMD Investigates Record High Temperature at Delhi Mungeshpur Weather Station
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is currently conducting an investigation into the temperature sensor at the Mungeshpur automatic weather station in Delhi after it recorded an unprecedented temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius, the highest ever in India. According to IMD Director General M. Mohapatra, this station’s reading is significantly higher than those from other monitoring stations across Delhi, raising questions about its accuracy.
Delhi has 20 weather monitoring stations, and out of these, 14 recorded a decrease in temperature, with averages ranging between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius. The extreme reading from Mungeshpur stands out as an outlier, necessitating verification. Dr. Mohapatra noted that while some observatories reported slightly higher temperatures, the Mungeshpur data is anomalous and requires a comprehensive investigation. A team of specialists has been dispatched to Mungeshpur to examine the temperature sensor closely. Dr. Mohapatra speculated that local environmental factors around Mungeshpur might have contributed to this extraordinarily high temperature reading.
The IMD reported that the maximum temperatures across the Delhi NCR region varied from 45.2 to 49.1 degrees Celsius in different parts of the city. The 52.9 degrees Celsius recorded at Mungeshpur was an outlier, potentially due to a sensor error or local conditions, according to an IMD statement. The department is currently scrutinizing the data and the functioning of the sensors to determine the accuracy of the readings.
Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the 52.3 degrees Celsius temperature reported in Delhi is not yet official. IMD officials have been instructed to verify this report, and an official statement will be released once the verification is complete.
IMD regional head Kuldeep Srivastava provided additional context, explaining that the outskirts of the city, including areas like Mungeshpur, Narela, and Najafgarh, are often the first to experience hot winds arriving from Rajasthan. These hot winds exacerbate the already severe weather conditions, leading to higher temperatures in these regions. The recorded temperature was more than nine degrees higher than expected and surpassed the previous record of 49.2 degrees Celsius set in 2002.
A brief rain shower in Delhi on Wednesday evening is likely to increase humidity levels, adding another layer of discomfort to the current weather conditions. Delhi’s primary weather station at Safdarjung recorded a maximum temperature of 46.8 degrees Celsius, the highest in 79 years, underscoring the severity of the heatwave.
In response to the extreme heat, the IMD issued a red alert for Delhi, warning of a very high likelihood of heat illness and heat stroke across all age groups. The alert emphasized the need for extreme care, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with preexisting health conditions. The ongoing heatwave is part of a broader pattern of increasing temperatures and more frequent and intense heatwaves, which scientists attribute to climate change.
The extreme temperatures have also led to record-high power demand in Delhi. The city reported its all-time high electricity consumption of 8,302 megawatts, driven by the widespread use of air conditioning as residents sought relief from the heat.
Elsewhere in India, other regions have also reported soaring temperatures. In the desert state of Rajasthan, Phalodi recorded a temperature of 51 degrees Celsius, while Sirsa in Haryana saw temperatures reaching 50.3 degrees Celsius. Despite the widespread heat, some areas in south Rajasthan, including Barmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Sirohi, and Jalore, experienced a temperature drop of up to 4 degrees Celsius. This decrease is attributed to the incursion of moist winds from the Arabian Sea, signaling the beginning of a reduction in heatwave conditions across northwest India.
Looking ahead, Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) data suggests that this cooling trend will continue to extend northwards, bringing gradual relief from the intense heatwave starting from May 30. Additionally, the arrival of moist winds from the Bay of Bengal is expected to lead to a gradual decrease in maximum temperatures over Uttar Pradesh from Thursday onwards.
The IMD continues to monitor the situation closely, providing updates and guidance as necessary to help residents cope with the extreme weather conditions. As climate change continues to influence weather patterns, the need for accurate weather monitoring and timely interventions becomes ever more critical.