Delhi Experiences Coolest April Day in Three Years Amidst Rainfall
On Tuesday, New Delhi witnessed a significant drop in temperature as very light rain swept across the city, bringing the maximum temperature down to 28.8 degrees Celsius. This reading was six degrees below the normal level for this time of year, making it the coolest April day recorded in the past three years. The previous record was set on April 30, 2023, with a maximum temperature of 28.7 degrees Celsius.
Rainfall and Wind Patterns Across Key Locations
The rainfall was accompanied by gusty winds, with the maximum speed recorded at Palam reaching 56 kmph around 1:30 pm. Various weather stations in Delhi reported varying amounts of precipitation. Safdarjung, the city's base station, received 0.4mm of rain until 8:30 am and an additional 3mm between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm. Meanwhile, Palam logged 1.4mm till 8:30 am and 2.1mm from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Lodhi Road recorded 1mm and 3mm respectively during the same time frames.
Impact on Flights and Air Quality
While no flights were diverted or cancelled due to the weather conditions, over 400 flights experienced delays, as reported by FlightRadar24, a live flight tracking website. The rain also had a positive effect on air quality, with Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) improving to 114 on Tuesday, placing it in the moderate category. This was a decrease from 135 recorded the previous day, and further improvement to satisfactory levels is anticipated on Wednesday.
Weather Forecast and Temperature Trends
According to meteorological officials, similar conditions, including light rain and gusty winds up to 50 kmph, are likely to persist on Wednesday, with a yellow alert in place. The cooling effect is attributed to a western disturbance, which has led to a drop in maximum temperatures by 4-6 degrees Celsius over the next two days. However, a gradual rise is expected thereafter, with temperatures projected to increase to around 30-32 degrees Celsius on Thursday and potentially reach 35-37 degrees Celsius by Sunday.
The India Meteorological Department's data indicates that the highest maximum temperature this season so far was 36.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on April 2 and March 11. The second half of March remained relatively cooler due to consecutive western disturbances causing light rain and overcast skies. April has mostly seen maximum temperatures below normal on most days.
Looking ahead, the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi forecasts that air quality may return to moderate levels on Thursday and Friday. As the influence of the western disturbance subsides, clear skies are expected to return, leading to a steady increase in temperatures over the coming days.
