At 30°C, Delhiites sweat it out

After shivering at four degree Celsius this month, Delhiites found themselves sweating as the temperature rose to 30.7 degree Celsius — five degrees above normal — on Wednesday.

After shivering at four degree Celsius this month, Delhiites found themselves sweating as the temperature rose to 30.7 degree Celsius — five degrees above normal — on Wednesday.

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The sudden fluctuation in temperature may seem unusual to some, but weathermen were not surprised.

They said that the weather has always fluctuated in February.

"The western disturbance that brings sudden winter rain or snow has not been that strong this time. Fresh snowfall is yet to fall in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal. There is nothing unusual about this change in temperature, as the winds from south west are keeping the Capital a bit warm," said a senior meteorological officer.

The rise in temperature caught several Delhiites off-guard. Most had gone to their work place draped with woollens and by afternoon it became difficult to bear the weather without a fan.

"I think we will be forced to switch on our air conditioners, if the mercury keeps rising at this pace," said Anurag Batra, a resident of Lajpat Nagar.

The Met department, however, said that the temperature would fall to 24 degrees by the weekend, as snow fall was expected in the hills.

"There will be a fall in the mercury in the coming days, and the maximum temperature will be around 24 degrees Celsius, while the minimum would be around nine degree Celsius on Sunday," the Met officer said.