Delhi Records Its Coolest April Day in a Decade
New Delhi witnessed its coolest April day in 10 years on Wednesday, as the maximum temperature plunged to a refreshing 28.2 degrees Celsius. This reading was a significant seven degrees below the normal seasonal average, providing residents with an unexpected respite from the typical spring heat.
Rainfall and Meteorological Data
Light rainfall and persistently overcast skies contributed to this cooling effect across the national capital. According to detailed reports from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), several key weather stations recorded measurable precipitation:
- Safdarjung, which serves as the city's primary base station, logged 6.4 mm of rainfall until 8:30 AM.
- Palam observed 4.4 mm until 8:30 AM, followed by an additional 0.6 mm between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM.
- Lodhi Road recorded 5.6 mm until 8:30 AM, with only trace amounts of rainfall during the subsequent daytime hours.
The minimum temperature also dipped notably, settling at 16.8 degrees Celsius, which is three notches below the normal low for this time of year.
Historical Context and Upcoming Forecast
This recent cool spell marks the chilliest April day since April 23, 2016, when the mercury dropped even further to 27.2 degrees Celsius. However, this pleasant interlude is expected to be short-lived. Meteorological officials have indicated that the impact of the western disturbance—a weather system that brought the rain and cloud cover—is likely to dissipate by Thursday.
As a result, a gradual increase in temperatures is anticipated, with the maximum potentially soaring to around 38 degrees Celsius by April 14. An IMD official elaborated, "A gradual rise in the maximum temperature is likely by 6-8 degrees Celsius from Thursday onwards for the subsequent seven days. At present, the maximum temperatures are below normal but they are likely to become normal during the next three days and above normal thereafter."
The forecast specifics include:
- Thursday: Maximum temperatures expected to range between 30 and 32 degrees Celsius.
- By April 12: Temperatures may climb to approximately 35-37 degrees Celsius.
- By April 14: Further increase to between 36 and 38 degrees Celsius is projected.
Seasonal Temperature Trends and Air Quality Impact
So far this season, the highest maximum temperature recorded was 36.8 degrees Celsius, occurring on both March 11 and April 2. The latter half of March remained relatively cooler due to consecutive western disturbances that brought intermittent light rain and cloud cover.
The recent rainfall, accompanied by gusty winds, had a positive effect on Delhi's air quality. The city recorded its second satisfactory Air Quality Index (AQI) day of the year with a reading of 93. The only other satisfactory day occurred on March 20, which also registered an AQI of 93. This marks an improvement from Tuesday's AQI of 114.
However, environmental forecasts suggest that this cleaner air may not last. The air quality is predicted to deteriorate to moderate levels on Thursday and remain in that range through Friday. Looking further ahead, the Centre's Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi has issued an outlook indicating "moderate to poor" AQI conditions for the six days starting from Saturday.
