New Delhi: Hot weather persisted in most parts of north India with mercury recording above-normal maximum temperatures even as parts of Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh received rainfall.
The national capital reeled under hot and humid conditions with both the maximum and minimum temperatures hovering four and five notches higher than normal.
The day temperature was 41.7 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, as the minimum rose five points above normal to settle at 32.7 degrees Celsius, the Met department said.
As compared to yesterday, when temperatures had soared close to the 45 degree-mark, there was some respite for Delhiites due to partially cloudy skies during the latter part of the day.
Humidity in air was recorded between 33 and 56 per cent after it had shot up to 70 per cent yesterday. Heat wave conditions prevailed in several pockets in Rajasthan as Ganganagar recorded a high of 44 degrees Celsius.
Churu was the next hottest place in the state at 43.8 degrees Celsius followed by Bikaner 42.6, Jaipur 42, Jaisalmer 41.7, Pilani 41.5 and Barmer 41.2 degrees Celsius.
Light rainfall occurred at isolated areas in Jaipur divisions since yesterday. Sweltering heat swept swathes of Punjab and Haryana including Chandigarh with Hisar simmering at close to 43 degrees Celsius.
Mercury at Amritsar in Punjab, which witnessed a drizzle, settled at 40.8 degrees Celsius while Ludhiana and Patiala recorded above normal highs of 42.6 and 42.7 degrees Celsius, respectively, the MeT office said.
In Haryana, Hisar experienced a hot day at 43 degrees Celsius while Karnal braved sweltering conditions at 42.6 degrees Celsius and Ambala registered 41.4 degrees Celsius.
Sultry weather prevailed in Chandigarh, where maximum temperature settled at 41.6 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, the Met office said.
Rains continued to lash parts of Uttar Pradesh as few places in the eastern part of the state recorded moderate rainfall and isolated areas in the west received light rains.
According to the MeT office, 8 cm rainfall was recorded at Gorakhpur, 7 cm each in Bansi, Regauli, Kakrahi, 6 cm in Maharajganj, Sultanpur, 5 cm rainfall in Ghoshi, 4 cm each in Birdghat, Mukhlishpur, 3 cm each in Utaruala, Basti, Deoria, Bansgaon, Gazipur, Kushinagar, Pharenda, Harriya, Gazipur, Zamania, Hata, Domariaganj and Bllia 2 cm each.
Pre-monsoon showers lashed several parts of Himachal Pradesh for the fifth day today causing sharp drop in night temperatures at some places.
Sunnibhajji area of Shimla recorded 50 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours while Una and Baldwara received 32 mm of rains, followed by Gohar 31 mm, Joginder Nagar 30 mm, Nagrota Suriyan 29 mm, Mashobra 28 mm, Bangana 24 mm, Guler 22 mm, Sujanpur Tira 21 mm and Renuka 20 mm.
Shimla was lashed by a thunderstorm last night and the town recorded 17 mm of rainfall. The showers caused sharp fall in minimum temperature as Shimla and nearby resort of Mashobra recorded 13.6 and 10. 2 degrees Celsius respectively, a drop by four to five notches.
The minimum temperature also dropped in Una to 20 degrees Celsius although it remained hottest place in the state with a maximum temperature of 42.8 degrees Celsius. The day temperatures were largely steady in other parts of the hill state.
