The national Capital finally had a pleasant encounter with first rain of March on Thursday. The moderate rain brought the mercury down to 15 degrees Celsius as March till now had been unusually warm and dry.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 2.4mm rainfall at its Safdarjung observatory, while at Palam it was 9.6mm. Even the maximum temperature came down to 28 degrees Celsius.
More showers are likely on Friday and Saturday with the regional weather forecast centre (RWFC) of IMD predicting as much as 64mm rain in isolated areas of the national Capital. It predicted “generally cloudy sky with moderate rain and thunderstorm” in the next 36 hours.
Due to the prediction of moderate rainfall, the minimum temperature will further come down to 14 degrees Celsius and maximum temperature would be around 26 degrees Celsius, tweeted RWFC.
A few areas, including New Friends Colony and other areas of South Delhi, received a few sharp spells of rainfall. Rain and thunderstorm were reported from Noida and Gurugram as well as.
As per the Skymet meteorological website, “An active Western Disturbance is persisting over Jammu & Kashmir and through this system, it is extending up to west Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.”
The intensity of rain may increase on March 10, it added.
In its weekly weather forecast, IMD predicted rainfall on March 10 and March 11 while sky will remain clear on March 12 and March 13.
It may be noted that on the Holi evening, the minimum temperature would be 10 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, with moderate rainfall, the Air quality index updated their index with “satisfactory” status as the levels of both the primary pollutants particulate matters (PMs) 10 and 2.5 were recorded under their prescribed standards. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has marked Delhi airport as “Moderate Delay” on their flight delay Index.