The national capital of Delhi will see a steady rise in day temperature and may culminate at 38°C on ‘Holi’, 29th March 2021. The maximum temperature in Delhi has taken a dip in the past 24 hours from 34.2°C to 29.6°C, a straight drop of about 5°C. The plummeting of temperature after the passage of active western disturbance is a common feature and now the mercury will see a gradual rise. The surge in day temperature in Delhi will nearly be 2°C per day for the next 3 days to reach 38°C on the day of the colourful festival.
Holi this year could be the hottest for Delhi at least in the last decade or so. Since 2011, the highest temperature in Delhi so far on the festival day was 35.4°C on 19th Mar 2011. The lowest temperature in Delhi during this period was 23.6°C on 12th Mar 2017. Against the normal belief that ‘Holi’ sprinkles some showers over the northern plains, no rain was observed on this day since 2011. This year also will be no different and Holi is going to be hot and dry for Delhiites. Though the western disturbance will be moving across the northern parts, its effect will be confined to hilly states and plains including Delhi will observe a clear sky.
The time and date of the festival Holi vary a large and as much as 28 days or so. In 2010, the festival was celebrated on the 28th Feb and this year it falls on 29th Mar. Since the year 2000, this is the 3rd time that the festival lands up on 25th March or later (2005 - 25th Mar and 2013 - 27th Mar). Accordingly, the range of variation of temperature is very large. As per the ‘ Hindu Calendar’, Holi falls on the full moon day of ‘Phalgun’, the last month of the calendar. Next year it is listed on 18th March, a straight difference of 11 days from now.
