Rain, thunderstorms lash Delhi; Holi to be a cool, but dry affair

The national capital experienced light rain and thunderclaps on Thursday, three days ahead of Holi.

Weathermen have forecast moderate rains on Friday too. Temperature would drop below normal, oscillating between 26°C and 14°C. Though the rain will cease by Holi, the temperature would drop to a comfortable 10°C to 26°C.

Some parts of Delhi experienced drizzles until 8.30 am on Thursday, with a reading of 0.3 mm rain. Jaffarpur got the major share of the rainfall.

However, rain intensified in the city later between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, with thunder across many parts of the city. Delhi recorded 2.4 mm rain during this time, with places close to Palam recording the highest. Maximum and minimum temperatures were 28.4°C and 14.6°C respectively, and winds with speed ranging between 4 and 15 kmph blew across the city during the course of the day.

“I love the smell of rain; and with that cool breeze, it was the perfect weather for some adrak wali chai and biscuits, or some hot steaming maggi. I just wish it had not been a working day,” said Dilip Nair, a resident of Vasant Vihar.

According to weather experts, western disturbance has caused the rain. An official at the Regional Weather Forecasting Centre (RWFC) said that moisture in the air has increased under the influence of the western disturbance that is currently over Jammu and Kashmir, and this has caused some thunderstorms and rain.

Rain is expected to persist through Saturday, with an official saying that the rain induced by the influence of western disturbance will persist until Friday evening, and there may be some residual rain on Saturday too.

After three days of rain, by Sunday, the Holi eve, the maximum and minimum temperatures will drop to 24°C and 10°C. By Holi, the clouds are also expected to clear, treating the national capital to a sunny, but cool day with temperature ranging between 10°C and 26°C. “There will be no rain on Holi, as far as we can predict,” said the official.