Dry And Hot Weekend Ahead For Delhi, Chance Of Rain Recedes

Delhi's temperature has steadily risen over the last three days and added about 4°C during this period. On the expected lines, base station Safdarjung recorded the maximum temperature of 32.8°C, and 1.5°C above the normal. The minimum temperature also has risen by a notch to 15°C but is still below normal by about 1.5°C. Courtesy western disturbance over the mountains is expected to move away tomorrow; the mercury profile will remain steady and warm for the next 3 days. Day temperature may hover around 34°-35°C today and the minimum may go up to 17°C. A sharp rise in the day maximum is expected next week. The chance of light rains late tonight or tomorrow, which came up earlier, has receded and it is highly unlikely now.

The month of March has literally remained dry so far. Against a monthly normal of 19.1 mm, the capital city has logged a mere 2 mm of rainfall and that too was just at the start of the month. Rainfall in the remaining days of this month is highly unlikely. The drier conditions will gather more heat and a sharp rise in the temperature is expected between 26th and 28th March. It may just shy away from reaching the notional mark of 40°C, but it will not be very far from that magic figure.

There is a western disturbance likely moving across the hills between 25th and 28th March. The spread and intensity will be sizeable on the 26th and 27th across the mid and lower reaches and the foothills, as well. However, the plains of North India, including Delhi, will escape the seasonal rains. The change in the wind pattern, due to the western disturbance, will trigger a rise in temperature across the region. Stations like Amritsar, Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Sangrur, Hisar, Narnaul, Sirsa and Delhi may inch closer to the 40°C mark between 26th and 28th March 2025.