Day temperatures have been rising above the monthly normal of 23.6°C for last few days now. Generally, as the month progresses, heat keeps building up. Maximum touches 24-25°C by middle of the month and reaches 27-28°C as the month ends. The minimum temperature also jumps to 12°C as against the average of 10.2°C.
February is also as rainy as January with an average of 19.7 mm of rain but this year, February has been practically dry. Consequently, maximum of 28.6°C recorded on last Saturday is considered to be quite high even though Delhi has witnessed higher temperatures in the previous years. For instance, Delhi recorded 34.1°C on February 26, 2006. Last year as well temperature jumped to 27.8°C at the beginning of the month on February 4.
Night is still cool but the minimum temperature in the national capital on Monday morning soared to 14.6°C as against yesterday's 11.2°C.
The fresh Western Disturbance affecting North India has given heavy snow in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, while middle and lower reaches received widespread moderate rainfall. Though Delhi will remain on the fringes of the system, we cannot rule out the possibility of very light rain on 18th night or 19th morning. Cloudy sky accompanied by light rain will lead to further rise in minimums but some relief from high day temperatures could be expected.