Delhi wakes up to a cloudy and rainy morning, but temperature to rise further

NEW DELHI: Delhiites woke up to a cloudy morning on Friday after the city recorded a warm day on Thursday. Light rain occurred in the national capital in several parts, bringing much-needed relief from the heat conditions. Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad adjoining Delhi, also witnessed rain.

On Thursday, the mercury touched a maximum of 38.7 degrees – three notches above normal for this time of the season. According to IMD, temperatures are likely to rise even further in the next four days, touching 41 degrees Celsius by Monday. A spell of rain, however, is expected to hit the capital on April 16 and 17, accompanied by a dust storm which could provide relief after that.


“Temperatures crossed the 40 degree mark at some locations and this will gradually rise 2-3 degrees by Monday,” said a senior met official, adding an active western disturbance is likely to influence the region on Tuesday.

“Rain is again forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. High temperatures can often lead to a dust storm and thunderstorm when a western disturbance occurs. The high moisture content will cause a storm with wind speeds ranging from 40-50 km/hr,” the official added. Delhi’s warmest day of the season so far was recorded last Friday when the maximum temperature touched 39.3 degrees Celsius. Delhi had recorded the warmest March day in nine years on March 30, at 39.2 degrees Celsius.

The hottest location on Thursday was Palam with a maximum of 40.6 degrees Celsius, while the relative humidity oscillated between 24% and 71%. The increase in temperature has, however, helped improve Delhi’s air quality to the “moderate” category.