Despite being welcomed by the scorching heat in the morning, Delhiites got the much-needed respite on Monday as the city witnessed a pleasant rainfall towards late afternoon. The sudden shower led the mercury to dip by several notches with the maximum temperature settling at 38.2°C making it the coolest day in the last five years. However, as strong winds blew across the city, several incidents of tree falling were also reported.
The rain gauge measured a rainfall of 14.6 millimetres in the national Capital on Monday. The unseasonal rain caused the mercury to drop one degree below normal and settle at 38.2 °C which was also 1.5 point below from Sunday’s 39.7°C. However, the minimum
temperature showed a different story which was registered at 26°C, one notch above normal for this part of the year and 1.5 degrees up from the previous day’s 24.5°C. Humidity levels oscillated between 34 per cent and 74 per cent during the last 24 hours. The next maximum temperature recorded on the same date was 39°C in the year 2012.
Prior to the rains, strong winds blew in the Capital resulting in numerous incidents of tree falling. Nearly four cases of trees falling were reported in New Delhi area, these occurred in places like Tansen Marg, Moti Bagh, India Gate and in front of Aditya Sadan at Ashoka Road. Another case was also reported at Deen Dayal Upadhayay Marg. No case of loss of property or life or injury was reported.
The Met Department has predicted light rains on Tuesday with temperatures expected to remain below the 40°C mark.
“There will be a partly cloudy sky on Tuesday. Thunderstorms and light rains may occur in some areas of the city by afternoon,” said an
official. The maximum and minimum temperature is expected to remain between 39°C and 26°C respectively.
On Monday, people in Delhi woke up to a hot morning, but later in the evening showers lashed most parts of the national Capital.
“The rains occurred due to an active western disturbance over the region. The city got rains as Haryana and Punjab including Chandigarh witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall,” informed an official.
Chandigarh, which was lashed by hailstorm and heavy rains (39 mm) last evening, recorded temperature at 34.4°C, while Ambala in Haryana, which received light rains, recorded a high of 34.8°C and Hisar recorded a maximum temperature of 38.1°C. Moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers occurred at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh as well, with Etawah witnessing highest temperature of 42.6°C.