Dark clouds, frequent showers and strong winds lashed the national capital and suburbs yesterday. Persistent showers plunged the day temperature to a low of 26.1 degrees. This was a huge 13 degrees below the normal. The record observatory at Safdarjung measured a rainfall of 15mm which amounts to half the monthly average of 29.4mm. Some other locations like Ridge recorded 21mm. It appears that the eastern suburbs like Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida witnessed heavy showers and for a longer duration.
The day maximum of 26.1 degrees was the 2nd coolest day since May 2009. Earlier, on 19th May 2021, the observatory had recorded the lowest maximum of 23.8 degrees, the record lowest for the last couple of decades. The variability of temperature during the month of May is very high. The month of May and the first half of June are considered the hottest for the capital city. The lowest day temperature varies between the low 20's and high 30's.
The normal daily maximum temperature is about 40 degrees Celsius around this time of the month. It holds this mark till around 10th June. Thereafter, the arrival of monsoon down south start offering little relief, incremental in nature, as the month progresses. The maximum temperature in Delhi during May has exceeded the 45-degree mark on more than one occasion, in the recent past. The capital city clocked 45.9 degrees on 28th May 2020.
Day temperatures are likely to remain suppressed to the high 20s for the next 3 days. These are likely to remain in the low 30s till the weekend. Mercury is expected to reach mid 30's during next week. Heat is expected to build after 10th May. Delhiites can expect pleasant conditions for the next 3 days. Fleeting rain and thundershowers, sporadic and scattered at times, can be expected over Delhi/NCR. Light and isolated weather activity is expected on the 04th & 05th of May. These showers are not likely to drain out completely, even thereafter. Patchy rain and drizzle are likely on subsequent days as well. Large clearance is expected only after 8th May 2023.
