The retreat of monsoon may have had a pause over the central and eastern parts of the country, but the northern plains are slowly slipping into a nippy flavour, after the withdrawal. Delhi temperature has been slowly dipping and staying below normal by a degree or two in some pockets. The base observatory at Safdarjung and airport Palam registered for the first 20°C of the season. The meteorological office at Lodhi Road and Ayanagar recorded lows of 18.4°C and 18.2°C, respectively. The Ridge area was the lowest with a minimum of 15.7°C, a clear indication of the winter chill.
Delhi is expected to observe dry weather conditions for the next 7-10 days. There is no activity at all, even in the mountains for the next 4-5 days. Persistent northwesterly winds from the slopes of the mountains may dip the mercury levels by about a degree or two in the next 4-5 days. Evenings and nights are going to be fairly pleasant and a mild chill and with light breeze in the early morning hours. No muggy heat is expected during the day and the afternoon is going to be slightly warm.
Delhi temperature is likely to stay between 33°-34°C in the afternoon and the lowest of about 19°-20°C in the early morning hours. The morning temperatures may rise a bit around mid-week next. A post-monsoon system from the Bay of Bengal may travel across South India, right up to Konkan Coast, next week. This will reverse the wind stream over and around Delhi. The cool effect of northwesterly winds may get suspended for a few days, between the 17th and 20th of October. This may also raise the moisture level to make the afternoon, warm and humid. Rains are unlikely over Delhi in October.
