Delhi reels under heat wave, mercury soars to 44 degree Celsius

Humidity levels oscillated between 47% to 15%

The national capital on Wednesday reeled under a heat wave with the mercury soaring to 44 degrees in some parts of the city.

The maximum temperature as recorded by the Safdarjung observatory, whose recording is considered the official figure for the city, stood at 42.5 degrees Celsius, five notches above the season's average, making it the hottest day in April since 2010 when the temperature had settled at 43.7 degrees Celsius.

The Palam observatory registered a high of 44.4 degrees, while areas under Lodhi Road, Ridge and Ayanagar recorded a maximum temperature of 42.2, 43.4 and 43.4 degrees Celsius respectively, a MeT department official said.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 25.4 degrees Celsius, four notches above the normal, the official said.

Humidity levels oscillated between 47 and 15 per cent.

The Met office predicted overcast conditions for on Thursday.

"The skies will be partly cloudy. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 41 and 25 degrees Celsius, respectively," the official said.

On Tuesday maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 42.5 and 24.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.