A steep rise has been witnessed in the mercury levels of the national capital. Base observatory Safdarjung, a repository of official records for Delhi, has measured the monthly average for April 2021 at 37.5 degrees against the normal of 36.3 degrees celsius. A hike of 1.2 degrees over a period of 30 days is huge and ranks it amongst the hottest in the recent past. The average monthly for April in 2020 was 35.5 degrees and 36.4 degrees in 2019.
Pronged dry spells accompanied by the hot sun on cloudless days resulted in substantial heat. Just a token rainfall of 2.6mm against the monthly average of 13mm was an outlier and the 2nd lowest in the last 10 years. The capital city went on to record 9 days of maximum temperature in excess of 40 degrees. There was a 4-day spell from 13th to 16th April and yet another 5-day event between 26th and 30th April with mercury breaching the 40degree mark.
Strong pre-monsoon activity with severe thunderstorms or dust storms has given amiss to the capital city so far in this season. However the meteorological conditions are shaping up wherein lightning, thunderstorms accompanied with rain and gusty winds are expected between 01st and 08th May with a short break on 3rd May. Thunderstorm or mild dust storm is expected even today also in some pockets. Weather activity is likely to peak between 05th and 07th May with the squally wind to the tune of 60-80kmh. Maximum temperature over these days is likely to drop from 42 degrees to just 35 degrees, few notches below the normal. This surely will provide relief from the excruciating heat and blistering sun.