Season’s 1st rainfall gives Delhi breather from heat

As the sultry Friday afternoon gave way to a rainy evening, the first rainfall of the season came as a pleasant surprise to Delhiites. HT reports.

As the sultry Friday afternoon gave way to a rainy evening, the first rainfall of the season came as a pleasant surprise to Delhiites.

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While the maximum temperature was recorded as 39.2 degree Celsius, the cool winds made the evening very comfortable. Trace rainfall was recorded in central Delhi.

For those who could not enjoy the rainfall, Saturday could bring another bout.

"Saturday evening is expected to see rainfall. In some areas hailstorms and thunder showers are expected," said an India Meteorological Department official. An improvement in the weather was observed on Thursday night, too, when thunderstorms and strong winds were experienced in most parts of the city.

Air conditioners were also switched off in many houses on Thursday evening. "Since power cuts are very common in our area and we have to pay a huge sum for backup power, Thursday's weather was a blessing," said Malini Singh.

Friday evening's squall brought people to India Gate and Connaught Place in droves.

“It had started to get very hot. It is a great start to the weekend," said Rahul Dogra, who was having ice cream at India Gate with his college friends.

The minimum temperature on Friday, at 25 degree Celsius, was normal for this time of the year, as was the maximum temperature. This was a welcome departure from the trend seen in the past week, when the temperatures were consistently above the 40 degree mark and 2-3degrees above normal.