The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange alert for Delhi after the scorching heatwave intensified further in the capital on Saturday with the maximum temperature reaching 42.4 degrees celsius. This is the highest in April in five years when the capital recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees celsius on April 21, 2017.

The all-time highest maximum temperature for the month was 45.6 degrees Celsius on April 29, 1941. This is the first time in 72 years that Delhi has had such a high temperature in the first half of April, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The maximum temperature at Delhi’s base station, Safdarjung Observatory, was 42.4 degrees Celsius, which was eight degrees above average for this time of year.

On the other hand, the mercury settled at 44.5 degrees celsius on Saturday in Gurugram, which was 10 degrees above average. The temperature in the city on Saturday was really close to an all-time high maximum temperature of 44.8 degrees Celsius that was recorded on April 28, 1979. Faridabad recorded 45.2 degrees celsius on Saturday.

Maximum temperatures were 43.9 degrees Celsius, 43.6 degrees Celsius, 43 degrees Celsius, 43.3 degrees Celsius, 43.4 degrees celsius, and 43.9 degrees celsius in Ridge, Ayanagar, Mungeshpur, Najafgarh, Pitampura, and Sports Complex, respectively.

For weather alerts, the IMD uses four colour codes: green (no action required), yellow (watch and stay updated), orange (be prepared), and red (take action).

The meteorological department predicts more intense and frequent heatwaves in northwest India and surrounding regions of central India in April. The capital has already witnessed three heatwave days this month, and it is expected to last another two to three days.

India had its hottest March in 122 years, with a catastrophic heatwave blistering huge swaths of the country during the month.

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