Delhi Escapes Extreme Heat: Dust Storm-Thunderstorm Unlikely Today/Tomorrow
May 23, 2025, 1:03 PM | Skymet Weather Team
Image: Canva/Skymet
Courtesy of a severe thunderstorm-dust storm on Wednesday evening, the day temperatures remained suppressed yesterday. The remnant effect of the hailstorm and thundershowers kept the maximum temperature well below normal across Delhi/NCR.
Most observatories recorded temperatures between 32° and 34°C, with the lowest being 31.5°C at Salwan School. Base station Safdarjungand airport observatory Palam registered highs of 34.7°C and 33.8°C, about 6°C and 7°C below the normal, respectively. The temperature is likely to rise today by about 2-3°C.
Cyclonic circulation persists in the lower levels over North Punjab and adjoining border areas. The east-west trough from this system runs across Haryana and Delhi. North Madhya Pradesh, to finally join with another circulation over Northeast Madhya Pradesh and Southeast Uttar Pradesh.
However, the trough has shifted south of Delhi, apparently at a safe distance to cause any significant activity over the next two days. Chances are better to have some thunderstorm–dust storm activity on Sunday evening.
Easterly winds over and around Delhi will increase the humidity alright, but the temperature is unlikely to shoot up. A marginal rise of about 2°C is quite likely in the next 24 hours and may add another degree on Sunday/Monday.
Surface and low-level winds are expected to become stronger. This will take the sting of heat out, and the sharp rise in temperature will be declined. So, the maximum temperature is likely to stay below normal, as well as under 40°C, on the weekend. The heat index may rise on account of the increase in humidity, and the feel-like temperature may breach the 42°C mark during this period.
There will be an uptick in the pre-monsoon activity next week. Light rain and showers to start the week will increase in spread and intensity around the next weekend. The day temperature will remain checked at or below 40°C. A heat wave is unlikely, and the month of May 2025 may scrape through without observing even a single heat wave day.
