Mercury close to 50°C in some areas in city

Two weather observatories in Delhi Mungeshpur and Najafgarh recorded temperatures of over 49 degrees Celsius Sunday as the heat wave in the city marched on.

While Mungeshpur recorded a temperature of 49.2 degrees Celsius, that at Najafgarh was 49.1 degrees. 

The temperature at Safdarjung, which provides a marker for the city, was 45.6 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal. 

The maximum temperature at Gurgaon was 48.1 degrees Celsius, nine degrees above normal. At Noida, it was 47.1 degrees. 

The temperature is expected to be between 41 and 28 degrees Celsius on Monday.

The two stations at Mungeshpur and Najafgarh are automatic weather stations, which were made operational this year. 

According to IMD officials, a climatological profile of these areas is not available so far to draw conclusions about Sunday's temperature. 

At Safdarjung observatory, the highest temperature ever recorded in May is 47.2 degrees Celsius. This was recorded on May 29, 1944. 

Sunday's temperature at the observatory was the highest for May since 2013, when the maximum settled at 45.7 degrees. 

According to IMD officials, the reason behind high temperatures is the lack of rain throughout summer this year.