Delhi Receives Light Rainfall, Next Spell End Of month

Delhi and its suburbs received light rainfall after a gap of about two weeks. On the expected lines, Delhi/NCR experienced rain and thundershowers late last night, which continued in the morning hours. Except for some patches of clouds, the weather conditions seem to be improving. Any further interruption today is unlikely. Most of the observatories across the Delhi region recorded light rainfall amounting to just about 1 mm or less. Base station Safdarjung and airport observatory recorded 0.9 mm and 1.0 mm rainfall, respectively.

Western disturbance is still moving across the hilly region and the induced circulation has now shifted to Northwest Rajasthan and adjoining parts. Plains of North India, more so, the northern half of Punjab and Haryana, will have the weather activity today as well. Delhi, as such, was on the periphery of the main system, and therefore, winter rains have vacated the region early, for the time being. Another spell may come up in the closing days of the month, subject to confirmation by the end of this week.

Because of overnight clouding and rainfall, the night temperatures have risen.  Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 15°C today, the highest so far, in this

Year. Yesterday, the maximum temperature of 28.4°C, like the past four days, was above normal by 4°C. The cooling effect of last night's rains and moisture in the air may lower it today by about a degree, but it is still above normal. In the wake of the system, the minimum temperature is likely to drop to about 10°-11°C.

The next western disturbance is likely to arrive on 24th-25th Feb. It is a little early to commit to anything reliable at this moment. Precise and accurate prediction is possible by 22nd-23rd Feb. Tentatively, the national capital may have a spell of light winter showers on the last two days of the month. Overall, the month of February will still remain far short of its monthly target of 21.5 mm rainfall.