Cool breeze and drizzle across the Capital came as a perfect start to a pleasant weekend for city dwellers on Friday. Interestingly, the maximum temperature — which settled in at 26.1°C — was recorded as the lowest for the day in the past five years. The Met department has sighted extended monsoon as the reason for the steep fall in mercury.
“Extended monsoon, the withdrawal of which is expected by October 13, is the primary cause. Moreover, during peak monsoons the westerly winds were blowing moving towards West Gujarat, but now, easterly and north-easterly winds have been coming from the Himalayas. There is also a seasonal reversal where the day time gradually shortens and temperatures decline,” said a senior official in the Met department.
Ruling out the onset of winters as the cause of the sudden fall in temperature, the weatherman said, “We officially declare winters on December 1, so it is still far. The reason for the sudden chill over the city is the system over Jharkhand, Western Uttar Pradesh and Northern part of Madhya Pradesh.”
The rain gauge measured a rainfall of 2.1 millimetre on Friday. On October 4, while the maximum temperature remained 26.1°C which was eight degrees below normal. The minimum, on the other hand, settled at 22.5°C a notch above the average. The sudden dip in the temperature came as an intriguing phenomenon as the Met department has claimed it to be the lowest maximum temperature in five years.
“In 2008 and 2009, the maximum on this day remained at 36°C. In 2010, it was 34°C and in 2011 and 2012, it was 35°C. This year it was 26.1°C which is a sharp drop compared to half a decade back,” informed the weatherman. The humidity level oscillated between 92 and 75 per cent. The cold weather came as a delight to Delhiites.
“Navratras and Durga Puja are approaching. The pleasant weather carries a subtle sacredness with it which is perfect for the festive season. The rain gods have also been kind this year,” said Sashwati Das, a resident of Hauz Khas. Taking advantage of the cool weather, hundreds of people thronged India Gate and the Old Fort to relax.