The national capital is unlikely to have any more rain this month. Whatever chance was there during the last 2 days went scot-free. Few clouds here and there and end of rain now, in the otherwise rainiest winter month. Unlike January, February, so far has remained quite eventful. Month achieved the target of rainfall, in two spells. The start of the month was wetter than the rest of the days. Mercury level mostly remained in the 20’s and shot up to the highest of 29.7°C on 18th Feb. The lowest plunged to 5.2°C on 10th Feb. It has continued in double digits for the last 4 days and is likely to dip. Week-long dry weather conditions are expected for the capital city and suburbs.
The western disturbance over the mountains has largely vacated the area. Another weak system will approach the Western Himalayas on 24th Feb but activity will remain confined to the hills, that too mildly. The induced cyclonic circulation over the plains of North India has also cleared the region. This had earlier given some rain and thundershower activity on 18th night and 20th wee hours. This feature has faded now and the likely extension of the current spell, looking promising earlier, is closed.
In the absence of any fresh active system, fair weather conditions are likely to prevail, until month end. The current spell of snow has just ended over the hills and in the wake, some cold air will reach down the plains up to Delhi. The minimum temperature, which has consistently dropped over the last three days will continue the spree for another 24 hours, before reversal. Delhi is expected to slip into single digit minimum, albeit briefly, and rise again to go up to low teens, by the end of the month. Even the mercury will rise during the day, as well. Maximum temperature will reach in high 20’s at the fag end of the month.
No rains are expected in the remaining days of this month, for the city and suburbs. However, the passage of some western disturbance across the mountains and the persistence of a very strong westerly jet stream over the northern parts will cause partly cloudy skies for a few days. Scattered medium and high clouds may be observed between 25th and 27th Feb, restricting sunshine for a longer duration. A fresh spell of rain, at the earliest, can be expected at the start of March. Confirmation of this prediction will need an observation period of 3 days.
Image Credit: thestatesman