Parts of Delhi sees light showers; IMD says rain, gusts to prevail over next few days

The capital recorded a slight dip in maximum temperature on Saturday as light to moderate rainfall was witnessed in parts of the Delhi, with the weather office forecasting that similar conditions will prevail over the next few days.

Safdarjung, the city’s base weather station, recorded a maximum of 35.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal, and 0.4 degrees lower than Friday.

The minimum temperature settled at 29 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degree below normal, but 0.9 degrees higher than the day before.

Safdarjung received no rain till 5.30 pm Saturday, according to India Meteorological department (IMD) data.

However, the Pusa weather station recorded 23.5 mm rainfall between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm, Janakpuri saw 9.5 mm rainfall during the same period; while Pitampura recorded 0.5 mm rain between 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm.

Other weather stations also marked a decrease in maximum temperatures on Saturday.

Palam recorded a maximum of 35.1 degrees Celsius, a one-degree dip from a day before; Lodhi Road recorded a maximum of 35.2 degrees Celsius, 0.6 degrees less than Friday’s maximum; Ridge and Ayanagar recorded maximums at 36.4 degrees and 34.6 degrees Celsius respectively, 0.5 and 0.7 degrees lower than Friday’s.

The IMD has forecast light rain and gusts to prevail at least till Friday.

“There is a possibility of very light to light rain, accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning and gusty wind of speed 40-50 kmph towards the afternoon and evening in the coming days,” an IMD official said.

According to the IMD forecast, the maximum might dip further and may settle around 32-34 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The minimum temperature is expected to be around 27-29 degrees Celsius.

The capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category on Saturday and the 24-hour average AQI stood at 123 at 4 pm, as compared to the average AQI of 105, also ‘moderate’, recorded at the same time Friday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

As per CPCB standards, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.