imd-casts-doubt-on-delhi-s-record-high-temp

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has questioned the accuracy of sensors after reports emerged of Delhi’s Mungeshpur hitting a record-breaking 52.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the highest-ever maximum temperature recorded in India.

 

According to IMD, maximum temperatures across Delhi NCR ranged from 45.2°C to 49.1°C on Tuesday, making Mungeshpur’s reported 52.9 degree Celsius an anomaly. The department is investigating the data and sensor reliability.

 

“It could be due to an error in the sensor or the local factor. IMD is examining the data and sensors,” stated the IMD.

 

While the weather department inspects the data, Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed doubt about the likelihood of such extreme temperatures in the national capital, suggesting it is highly doubtful.

 

In his post on X, he said, “It is not official yet. The temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius in Delhi is very unlikely. Our senior official in the IMD has been asked to verify the report. The official position will be stated soon.”

 

However, if confirmed, the 52.9 degrees Celsius temperature recorded in Mungeshpur would be just 3.8 degrees Celsius short of the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth— 56.7 degrees Celsius at Greenland Ranch in California’s Death Valley.

 

Mahesh Palawat from Skymet Weather showed that the temperature recorded at Safdarjung serves as a reliable benchmark for Delhi.

 

He pointed out that while the Automated Weather Station (AWS) recorded 52.9 degrees in Mungeshpur, this sensor-based reading might be influenced by its surroundings and therefore not entirely reliable.

 

Meanwhile, a sudden shift in weather brought light rains to Delhi on Wednesday, providing some relief from the heat wave and lowering the mercury levels.

 

This intense heat had earlier pushed the city’s power demand to an unprecedented high of 8,302 MW, marking the first time in history that Delhi’s power consumption exceeded the 8,300 MW mark.

 

Officials had anticipated the summer’s peak power demand to reach 8,200 MW, which was already a significant estimation.

 

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is currently investigating the accuracy of the 52.9-degree reading, with initial doubts suggesting potential sensor errors or local factors influencing the data.