IMD forecasts week-long sporadic showers in Delhi

Parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region experienced light rain and gusty winds up to 58kmph due to a fresh western disturbance on Thursday evening. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts more bouts of light rain and gusty winds until May 3, causing a drop in maximum (day) temperature by 2-3 degrees Celsius (°C) in most areas by Sunday, which will make for an unusually cool last week of April and first week of May.

“We are beginning to feel the effects of a new western disturbance, and while the sun came out during the day on Thursday, thunder clouds began to form in the evening due to a combination of high temperatures and moisture incursion. We expect drizzle and gusty winds in parts of Delhi on Friday, with similar light rain forecast for the weekend,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, a scientist at IMD.

While no rain was recorded at any weather station in Delhi till 5.30 pm, trace rainfall was recorded between 5.30pm and 8.30pm at both Safdarjung and Palam weather stations.

After 7pm, light rain was recorded in parts of central, south, east, and north Delhi, with similar activity being recorded in Indirapuram, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad during the same period.

Delhi has so far received 20.1mm of rain in April, which is more than the monthly average of 16.3mm.

On Thursday, the day temperature in Delhi was 38.4°C, which was one degree below normal. Both Gurugram and Noida, like Delhi, had a day temperature that was below normal. While the day temperature in Gurugram was 38.1°C, it was 38.2°C in Noida.

Officials predict that day temperatures will drop to 32°C by May 1, with wind speeds ranging from 30 to 40kmph.

Meanwhile, the minimum (night) temperature in the Capital on Thursday was 20.4°C, while it was 22°C in Gurugram and 21.7°C in Noida. The night temperature in the region is expected to range between 19 and 22°C until May 3, with rain and gusty winds keeping it in check, according to officials.

So far this month, the highest maximum temperature recorded in Delhi has been 40.6°C on April 17. Day temperature in Delhi in the last week of April typically exceeds 42°C, making this relatively cool spell highly unusual.

Last April, the temperature reached 43.5°C on both April 29 and 30. The highest maximum temperature in April in 2021 was 42.2°C, which was recorded on April 29. “Both the end of April and the beginning of May are expected to be cooler than usual. We are also unlikely to see heatwave conditions in the first week of May,” a Met official said.