New Delhi: Delhi-NCR experienced an unusual veil of shallow fog on Thursday morning to much bemusement of several residents. Such weather conditions are not typical for May which tends to be the hottest month of the year in Delhi-NCR. Weather department officials said high moisture content in the air, calm winds and a significant difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures create conditions that are favourable for the formation of fog.
According to the IMD, shallow fog is when visibility is between 501 and 1,000 metres. The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded 30 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Thursday.
It logged a maximum temperature of 30.6 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal, on Wednesday and a minimum temperature of 15.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the lowest in the month in at least 13 years. The all-time low of 15.2 degrees Celsius — since the weather keeping started — was recorded on May 2, 1982.
Humidity levels oscillated between 80 per cent and 100 per cent at most places in the city.
Heavy rains lash Delhi-NCR, More Showers Likely Ahead
Rains lashed Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, inundating low-lying areas and disrupting vehicular movement on key roads in several areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said it also received reports of hailstorms in parts of south Delhi, including Hauz Khas and Green Park.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded 20.9 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, and a maximum temperature of 30.6 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal. May had a cool start, with the city gauging 14.8 mm of precipitation on Monday.
On average, Delhi receives 29.4 mm of rainfall in May, but this year the city has already recorded more than 36 mm of precipitation in the first three days of the month.
Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge, Ayanagar, Mungeshpur, Narela, Pitampura and Pusa logged 11.8 mm, 24.6 mm, 14.6 mm, 13.8 mm, 31.5 mm, 9.5 mm, 55.5 mm and 15.5 mm of precipitation on Wednesday, respectively.
Rainfall recorded below 15 mm is considered light, between 15 and 64.5 mm is moderate, between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm is heavy, between 115.6 and 204.4 is very heavy. Anything above 204.4 mm is considered extremely heavy rainfall.
The showers brought the familiar sight of snaking lines of vehicles stuck on waterlogged roads for interminable minutes. Strong winds snapped power and internet cables in some areas.
Another spell of rain is likely from Friday onwards, weather officials said.
Delhi recorded more than 20 mm of rainfall in April, the highest in the month since 2017, owing to back-to-back western disturbances.
The Safdarjung Observatory recorded the maximum temperature at least 10 degrees below normal on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday owing to intermittent rainfall and cloudy weather under the influence of successive western disturbances.
The maximum temperature settled at 28.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday and dropped to 26.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, making it the second coldest day in the month in 13 years. The city recorded a maximum of 28.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
Another western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India starting May 5. Under its influence, cloudy skies and sporadic rain is predicted in the capital until May 7, an IMD official said.
The maximum temperature is predicted to remain below 35 degrees Celsius until May 9. According to the IMD, May is the hottest month in Delhi with a mean maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius. The Met Office has predicted below-normal maximum temperatures and fewer heatwave days in northwest India in May.