Delhi: After warmest November day since 2008, mercury likely to dip

NEW DELHI: The city recorded the warmest November day on Monday since 2008 as the maximum temperature rose to 33 degrees Celsius, four notches above normal, at Safdarjung, the city’s base station. The day temperature remained high mostly due to easterly winds, which bring warmer air, and clear sky, said experts.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature was 33 degrees Celsius on November 2 too. The last time Delhi recorded a higher maximum temperature in the month was on November 4, 2008, at 33.5 degrees Celsius. The all-time record of the highest maximum temperature in November is 36.1 degrees Celsius on November 3, 2001.
R K Jenamani, senior scientist at IMD, said, “Easterly winds, clear skies and sunlight kept the day temperature above normal.”
However, the night temperatures, staying above normal for the past few days, are likely to start dipping from Friday. Due to easterly winds, the nights had become relatively warmer and humid. The city is likely to witness a very light rain or drizzle on Thursday under the influence of a western disturbance, and the wind direction is also expected to change from Friday, causing a dip in temperature.
“As a western disturbance will impact on December 9-10, very light rain or drizzle is expected on Thursday at isolated places. However, the minimum temperature may rise further around November 9-10 due to cloud cover,” said Jenamani. Met officials said the cloud cover was keeping night warmer as it acted as blanket and radiational cooling didn’t happen.
However, once the impact of western disturbance is over, the wind direction is to change north-westerly, and the night temperature may drop to 16 degrees Celsius on November 11, the Met department said. “In winter, north-westerly winds are cold, while easterly winds are relatively warmer,” said Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather.
The minimum temperature was 17 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, on Monday against 17.4 on Friday. The normal mark for minimum temperature is 14 degrees Celsius.