Delhi: Absence of rains behind soaring temperatures, no respite anytime soon

On Tuesday, the maximum temperature fell to around 34.6 degrees Celsius, which still remains at four degrees above the normal for this time of the year. The minimum temperature recorded Tuesday was 22.5 degrees Celsius, five degrees above normal.

“The temperature is not coming down below normal because of the absence of rain. There has been a dry spell for around 25 days now, and it is unlikely to rain in Delhi for the next ten days,” said R K Jenamani, senior scientist, India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The month of March had not witnessed any rainfall in 2018 too, he added. “It might happen once in a few years. March is well known for dry spells and for high variations in temperature since there is a transition from winter to summer,” Jenamani said.

“From March 15 to 19, the temperature from Jammu and Kashmir to Uttarakhand was above normal. The western disturbances have not been bringing the temperatures to normal. With little rain, the temperature in the hills has not come down,” he added. Another western disturbance is set to affect Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on March 23 and 24.

An increase in the speed of westerly winds blowing over Delhi has caused a fall in temperature over the past two days. The maximum temperature recorded Monday was 36.6 degrees Celsius, lower than the temperature recorded on Sunday. The influence of the westerly winds will continue for the next five days, keeping the maximum temperature below 38 degrees Celsius, since high wind speed can prevent the heat from consolidating over an area, Jenamani explained.

The IMD forecast indicates that the maximum temperature could remain at around 35 or 36 degrees till March 27.

Though the wind speed has brought some respite, it is likely to be short-lived. “Trends have been showing another increase in temperature after March 27. That temperature increase will have to be monitored,” Jenamani said.

The normal rainfall for Delhi from March 1 to 22 is around 10.8 mm. The city has received no rain this month so far.