Capital city Delhi is likely to receive a long spell of pre monsoon showers. Weather activity is likely to commence around 16th March night, persist over the weekend and spill over to the next week, as well. Rains are not going to be heavy and at best may include one or two moderate showers during the entire period. However, cloudy sky will make appearance tomorrow onwards and persist for the complete duration with short breaks in between.
Month of February, an otherwise rainiest winter month, remained completely dry. Even month of March so far has not observed any rainfall. Trace of rainfall was wintessed on first 2 days of this month and went dry thereafter. Month of March has a normal rainfall of 19.1mm but has failed quite often to achieve it. Only, in 2020 and 2015, Delhi exceeded its normal rainfall of March. It fell short of the target in all other years since 2010. Last year, it remained completely dry. Total rainfall during the expected wet spell may not reach double digit.
An active western disturbance is likely to arrive on 16th March over Western Himalayas. The system will have support of an induced cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan. An east-west trough will run in the close proximity of Delhi.
Light rain may commence from 16th night and remain a regular feature till 21st March. Remnant effect may even be seen on 22nd as well with short duration fleeting showers. Intensity and spread will be relatively more between 17th and 19th March and an outside chance of a hailstorm can not be ruled out in some parts of Delhi/NCR on 18th and 19th March.
Delhi has been recording above normal temperature on all days during this month. Day temperature has exceeded 30 degree on all occasions, except one on 04th Mar (29.7deg). The highest temperature of this season at 34.1 degree was measured on 12th March. Mercury is expected to dip and may reach around normal of 30 degree by end of this week.
