With Delhi’s temperature hovering close to normal on Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted generally cloudy skies with a chance of light rain over the national capital.
According to the latest forecast, very light rain is expected to return to Delhi on Monday afternoon with the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning due to an active Western Disturbance.
“Overcast skies. Chance of very light rain/drizzle accompanied by thunderstorm/lightning during morning to afternoon,” the latest IMD press release said.
Read also | Why does it rain in March in India? Expert predicts ‘very rare cold day’
According to the MSN weather alert, several areas in Delhi are likely to witness light rain in the next few hours till 8:10 am. “Light rain/light thundershower (wind speed 30-40 kmph) very likely to occur at many places over Delhi during next 3 hours,” it said at 5:30 am.
A calm prevailing surface wind of 5 km/h from the northwest is also expected during the morning, which will gradually increase to 15 km/h during the afternoon. The wind speed will gradually decrease and will be less than 10 kmph from northerly direction during evening and night, IMD said.
The Met office said the maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are expected to be around 30 degrees Celsius and 17 degrees Celsius on Monday.
“Minimum temperature will be near normal (-1.5°C to 1.5°C) at most places and maximum temperature will be near normal (-1.5°C to 1.5°C) at most places over Delhi,” he added.
On Sunday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 29.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees below the seasonal average. The minimum temperature settled at 15.6 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees below the seasonal average, the meteorological agency said.
Read also | Bengaluru for 3 days of rain; is the interplay of two anticyclones behind it?
Delhi AQI
Air quality in Delhi was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category with an air quality index (AQI) of 153 at 4 pm on Sunday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 to 100 as “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 as “moderate”, 201 to 300 as “poor”, 301 to 400 as “very poor” and 401 to 5.
Western unrest over northern India
In its latest weather bulletin, the IMD has predicted light rainfall with occasional thundershowers and winds reaching up to 30-50 kmph over Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and parts of Rajasthan from March 23 to 26.
Several districts of Himachal, including Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi districts, have been issued a yellow warning for thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph on Monday and Thursday.
In east and central India, the weather agency has forecast light to moderate rainfall with thundershowers and gusty winds over sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Vidarbha on Monday.
Read also | Delhi Weather Today: National capital on yellow alert as city endures rain
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya may receive isolated heavy rainfall on March 24. Isolated thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are likely to continue over northeast India till March 26, the IMD said.
It also warned of a fresh weak western disturbance likely to hit northwest India from March 26.
