Delhi has experienced a surprisingly cool start to March 2024. The first ten days have seen temperatures below normal, with minimums dipping below 10 degrees Celsius for five consecutive days (March 4th-8th) – the first time this has happened since 1990!
This chilly spell follows a warmer-than-usual February, which also saw above-average rainfall (33.8 mm compared to the monthly average of 21.5 mm). The first few days of March brought scattered rain and even hailstorms to Northwest and Central India, further contributing to the drop in temperatures.
While temperatures are gradually rising again, a new Western disturbance approaching the Western Himalayas promises moderate snowfall in the hills. This system could also bring scattered rain to North India between March 11th and 14th, with Delhi potentially seeing light rain on March 13th. This welcome downpour may provide some relief from the rising temperatures, which typically begin to climb in the first week of March. With these occasional rain events, it seems like Delhi's spring warmth might be delayed for a bit longer.
Image Credit: tripsavvy.com