Rain likely on Tuesday, but it will not bring down mercury in Gurgaon

GURGAON/NEW DELHI: Mercury levels continued to rise steadily with day temperature recorded at 32.4 degrees Celsius - three notches above the season's normal - on Sunday as compared to 31.3 degrees recorded a day ago.
The minimum temperature, meanwhile, dropped to 14 degrees Celsius from Saturday's 15.7 degrees. But it was still two notches above the season's normal.
The mercury levels have been witnessing an upward trend for the past couple of days and it is likely to continue to soar for the next 2-3 days. Though there is a possibility of thundershowers on Tuesday but the relief from warm weather is unlikely until March 17, the weatherman said. The city had last received rainfall on March 1 and since then the weather has been dry.
Delhi, meanwhile, recorded its hottest day of the season as the maximum temperature rose to 34.1 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal, on Sunday at Safdarjung, which is the city's base station. Prior to this, the highest maximum temperature recorded this season was 33.6 degrees Celsius on February 20. The maximum temperature is expected to rise further to 35 degrees on Wednesday at Safdarjung.
Data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that the day temperature crossed 35 degrees Celsius in a few areas on Sunday. At 35.6 degrees, Najafgarh was the hottest station on Sunday. Ridge in north Delhi and Pitampura reported the maximum temperature at 35.4 degrees Celsius and Sports Complex near Akshardham saw the day temperature at 35.2 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature settled at 15.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The relative humidity oscillated between 27% and 85%.
According to the IMD, under the influence of a western disturbance, parts of NCR are likely to receive rain on Tuesday. "The weather is likely to remain dry on Monday, while isolated pockets in Haryana may witness some thundery and clouding activities on Tuesday with a slightly possibility of very light rain or drizzle. However, it won't have any significant impact on temperature which is likely to range between 32-34 degrees and some relief can only be expected from Friday onwards," said Manmohan Singh, director, IMD Chandigarh.
Meanwhile, the city's air quality index deteriorated on Sunday to poor category owing to slow winds preventing effective dispersion of pollutants. The overall reading was at 222 as compared to 170 on a previous day.