Dip in temperatures likely over weekend, says met department (Second Lead)

Offering some respite from the continuous heat wave over the past few days, Delhi Saturday recorded a dip in the day temperature - even if at the cost of a dust haze. The met department has predicted a dust storm or thunderstorm in the weekend.

Breaking the usual trend of the day temperature rising four-five degrees above normal, Delhi saw the day temperature dip a little Saturday. At 41.5 degree Celsius, it was two notches above normal.

On Friday, the maximum temperature rose five degrees above normal, at 44.2 degree Celsius which was the highest in this season.

An official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said: "Because of the western disturbances over north Pakistan, there was a dust storm over Delhi today (Saturday), thus bringing down the temperature. There is also a cyclonic circulation over eastern Uttar Pradesh, which has its effect here."

"There will most likely be a dust storm and thunder storm tomorrow (Sunday), which will help in maintaining the dip in the temperature. The heat wave is over," the official said.

The dust haze early in the day, however, made it stuffy and difficult for people to breathe.

"The dust particles suspended in the sky prevent sunlight from reaching the earth and heating it, so there will be a fall in the day temperature over the next two days."

The minimum temperature Saturday settled at 27.6 degree Celsius, four notches above average for this time of year.

Last updated on May 2^nd, 2009 at 17:41 pm IST--IANS