Many parts of the country witnessed cooler-than-normal temperatures during the month of April. Northwest India including Delhi witnessed comfortable weather during the last 10 days of April as well as during the first week of May. Temperatures in Delhi never crossed 40° except for a short period in April which was between April 15 and 19.
Delhi witnessed a sudden spike in temperature and the maximum temperature reached 42.5 degrees on May 12. Similarly, many parts of Haryana, parts of Punjab, west Uttar Pradesh and North Rajasthan also witnessed a significant rise in temperatures during the last 2 to 3 days. In fact, Churu and Bikaner in North Rajasthan crossed 45 degrees leading to heatwave conditions.
The rise in temperatures can be attributed to the flow of dry and hot Northwesterly winds across Northwest India. The weather has gone dry and the sun is bright. A Western disturbance has approached Western Himalayas and an induced cyclonic circulation is expected to develop over central Pakistan and adjoining parts of Punjab and Haryana.
Therefore, we expect mild dust storm and thunderstorm during the next 2 to 3 days over Northwest India including Delhi. But we do not expect any significant relief. Temperatures are expected to remain 40 degrees or more over all these areas for the next many days.