New Delhi: Very light rain on Tuesday brought down the maximum temperature to 28.8 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal, making it the coolest April day in three years.The rain was accompanied by gusty winds, the maximum speed for which at Palam was 56 kmph around 1.30 pm. No flight was diverted or canceled but according to FlightRadar24, a live tracking website, over 400 flights were delayed.Similar meteorological conditions, including light rain along with gusty winds up to 50 kmph, are likely to continue on Wednesday. However, temperatures are expected to rise again from Thursday onwards and may touch 37 degrees Celsius by April 12.The steady very light rain under the influence of a western disturbance during the day led to a cooling effect as the maximum temperature dipped below 30 degrees Celsius, as against 33.3 degrees Celsius the previous day. The last time the city recorded a lower maximum temperature in April was 28.7 degrees Celsius on April 30, 2023.Safdarjung, the city’s base station, got 0.4mm till 8.30 am and another 3 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. Palam, meanwhile, logged 1.4mm till 8.30 am and 2.1mm from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm. Lodhi Road logged 1mm and 3mm respectively till 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. The minimum temperature was 20.1 degrees Celsius.“A similar weather pattern is expected on Wednesday and a yellow alert is in place. However, after the influence of a western disturbance is over, clear skies are likely to return. A fall in maximum temperature by 4-6 degrees Celsius is expected during the next two days and gradual rise is predicted by 6-8 degrees Celsius thereafter,” said a Met official.The maximum is likely to rise to around 30-32 degrees Celsius on Thursday and may rise to 35-37 degrees Celsius by Sunday.India Meteorological Department’s data shows that the highest maximum temperature in this season so far is 36.8 degrees Celsius on two days — April 2 and March 11. The second half of March was relatively cooler due to back to back western disturbances causing light rain and overcast skies. April till now has been witnessing maximum temperature below normal on most days.Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the moderate category with an AQI of 114 on Tuesday but rain is likely to improve it to satisfactory on Wednesday. It was 135 a day earlier.“The air quality may turn moderate on Thursday and Friday,” according to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, which is the forecasting body.
