Delhi witnessed heavy rain on Wednesday evening due to Western Disturbance over Pakistan. Several parts of North India, including Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), received heavy rainfall, coupled with strong winds and hailstorms.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this will move towards some parts of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and north eastern parts of the country.
After witnessing dry weather conditions for months, Delhi residents finally heaved a sigh of relief as the city received heavy rain for a short duration on Wednesday evening. A dust storm accompanied by rain swept the national Capital and some parts witnessed a hailstorm as well.
However, despite the sudden rain, the maximum temperature was recorded at 34.9 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season’s average while the minimum temperature was recorded at 25.6 degrees Celsius, six notches above normal, said a MeT department official. Humidity oscillated between 57 and 75 per cent.
The MeT office predicted more rain on Wednesday night and Thursday. “The skies will be partly cloudy. light rain or thunderstorm would occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover around 34 and 25 degrees Celsius respectively,” said the MeT forecast.
On Wednesday, the maximum temperature had settled at 35 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature was recorded at 25 degrees Celsius
“We observed some Western Disturbance in Pakistan and J&K. The sudden rain in Delhi is due to the presence of moisture in the air and the Western Disturbances. The temperature will remain below normal for the next two days,” said RK Vishav, scientist and Group Captain, Delhi Division, IMD.
October is the changeover period for Delhi’s weather. However this year, the temperature in Delhi was recorded two notches above normal with the highest being recorded at 37.2 degrees Celsius. Delhi MeT official said that because of continuous rising temperature in the second week of October, the humidity level in the air had increased.
Usually, the sudden rain is considered a precursor or the initiator of change of season at this time of the year. As the temperature is starting to drop, Delhiites will feel some chill in the air.
According to weather scientists, the major systems affecting the weather during October are either Western Disturbances in the hilly regions or cyclonic circulation in the Arabian Sea or the Bay of Bengal.
In the present situation, they have predicted that the fresh cyclonic circulation over North Bay of Bengal (though less marked) will cause rainfall in parts of West Bengal and north eastern States between October 16 and 18. However, Durga Puja festivities in West Bengal will not be marred by these rains.
Further, a cyclonic circulation is seen over extreme southern parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This will bring light to moderate showers over both the coastal States.
To add to it, due to the impact of Western Disturbances, there will be isolated light showers over Uttarakhand and adjoining West Uttar Pradesh. According to the weather experts, the Western Disturbance is passing eastern parts of J&K as an upper air system. This system will be interacting with the trough over Uttar Pradesh, in these regions.