Light rain and cloud cover may keep heatwave at bay in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The city got some respite from the scorching heat on Sunday, as the daytime temperature dropped by at least five degree Celsius, with a few areas recording trace rain.
According to the weather department, light rain and cloud cover may keep heatwave at bay for the rest of this month. The capital is likely to get light rain on Monday as well at some isolated areas and, then again, on April 28 and 29.
On Sunday, trace rain was recorded at Palam, Lodhi Road and the Ridge area.
"Parts of the city recorded drizzle or trace rain on Saturday night, Sunday morning and evening in Delhi-NCR. There are chances of drizzle on Monday as well at isolated places. This is due to an ongoing western disturbance, and another is likely on April 28, which may cause rain on that day and on April 29," Kuldeep Srivastav, weather scientist, India Meteorological Department (IMD), said.
On Sunday, the maximum temperature at the city's base station, Safdarjung, was recorded at 31.3 degree Celsius, six notches below normal, against 36.8 degree Celsius a day earlier. The minimum temperature was 23.2 degree Celsius, a degree above normal, against 20.6 degree Celsius a day earlier. The humidity oscillated between 47% and 32%.
According to the weather department, the maximum and minimum temperatures on Monday are likely to hover around 32 and 21 degree Celsius, respectively. However, the daytime temperature may eventually rise to 39 degree Celsius by April 29.
The air quality, meanwhile, remained in the moderate category, with an AQI reading of 118, against 141 a day earlier.