Warmer weekend? Overcast sky may push mercury up

GURUGRAM: Residents can expect some relief from the cold as the minimum and maximum temperatures are likely to increase from Saturday as two back-to-back western disturbances are headed towards the national capital region (NCR). The maximum temperature rose from 18 degrees Celcius on Tuesday to 21 on Thursday in Gurugram. The minimum temperature on Thursday dropped to 6 degrees Celsius from 8 on Tuesday.

The weather systems are also likely to increase the cloud cover and cause moderate rain, starting from Monday evening, which in turn will improve visibility and air quality in Gurugram, according to weather officials. “We are expecting two western disturbances in quick succession,” said Kuldeep Srivastav, head of Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) . He added, “The first one will affect states such as Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh from Friday and cause heavy snowfall there. The same weather system will then hit Haryana, including NCR, on Monday, triggering rain.” Officials said that a second WD would hit the region on Tuesday. “It will bring a longer spell of rain,” an official said, adding, “The wet spell will last four days, ending on January 26.”

Officials said that temperatures were likely to rise from Saturday. “When a WD strikes, it prompts a change in the wind pattern. Easterly or south-easterly wind from states such as Rajasthan will enter the plains, bringing warmer air and triggering a rise in mercury. But when the WD departs, cold wind from states such as J&K and Himachal Pradesh will resume their movement into the plains, which is when we experience colder weather.”

Officials said that the visibility was expected to improve after rain. “On Thursday, the visibility was 200 metres in the morning. The same condition will prevail on Friday morning but in the coming days, the visibility will improve from ‘moderate’ to ‘shallow’,” an official said. The air quality will also improve. “Rain will bring down particulate matter in the air and improve the air quality index (AQI),” he added.

Due to low wind speed, the city’s air remained at ‘very poor’ level on Thursday as AQI reached 364, worse than Wednesday’s 304. The 24-hour average concentration of PM2.5, which was 218 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) on Wednesday, increased to 230 µg/m³ on Thursday.