Patchy rain keeps Delhi sweating, IMD forecasts stronger showers after Thursday

Drizzles in parts of Delhi on Monday did little to pull the national capital out of a period of humid, sticky weather, with the Met department forecasting stronger rains only from Thursday

Drizzles in parts of Delhi on Monday did little to pull the national capital out of a period of humid, sticky weather, with the Met department forecasting stronger rains only from Thursday.

India Gate on a clear sunny Monday. (Amal KS/HT)

The maximum temperature on Monday settled at 35.2°C, a degree above normal, with humidity levels swinging between 62% and 89%. As a result, the city logged a wet-bulb temperature (an indicator of a region’s discomfort levels) of 29.5°C, a number in the uncomfortable range of the spectrum.

Safdarjung — Delhi’s base weather station, Lodhi Road and Ridge stations received ‘trace’ rainfall between 8.30am and 5.30pm.

RK Jenamani, scientist at IMD, said the monsoon trough, which was over northwest India until the weekend, has shifted back to central India and will move towards the Indo-Gangetic Plains on July 28.

“By Thursday, we expect the trough to move again. It will return to northwest India and bring rain to UP, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. The region is likely to see light to moderate rainfall, with isolated parts also receiving heavy showers,” he said.

So far this month, Safdarjung has received 230.5mm of rain (till 5.30pm on Monday), more than the monthly normal of 210.6mm. But most of this month’s showers have been concentrated in just a few days of rain, with largely dry spells in between. Over half of this month’s amount was in a 24-hour spell between June 30 and July 1 this year, and then another strong spell last Wednesday.

Met officials said Delhi could record close to 300mm of rain if moderate to heavy spells of rain hit Delhi towards the end of the month.

“We can expect moderate spells for Delhi on Thursday and Friday, with showers in some parts on Saturday as well,” Jenamani said.

However, IMD has a ‘green’ alert in place for Delhi till the end of the month. It generally issues a ‘yellow’ alert when it wants the public to be aware of a weather phenomenon, normally issued on account of light rainfall, while it is upgraded to an ‘orange’ alert if moderate to heavy rainfall is likely.

In terms of air quality, Delhi’s overall air quality index (AQI) showed a slight improvement over the last 24 hours, dropping down to a reading of 67 (satisfactory) as per Central Pollution Control Board’s 4 pm daily bulletin. It was 72 (satisfactory) at the same time on Sunday. AQI is likely to stay in the same range over the next three days, owing to good wind speed and spells of rain.