Rain brings relief to Delhi after two days of sweltering heat

Around 8 pm, a fresh cloud cluster was reported to have entered Delhi, causing light rainfall. Several parts in Delhi, Northwest Uttar Pradesh, South Punjab, and Haryana reported “intense lightning”, the IMD told reporters.

As per the IMD, some stations in Delhi, such as Pitampura, Pusa, and Sports Complex, Mayur Vihar, saw a drop in temperature by 10 degrees from 37 degrees to 27 degrees between 6.30 pm to 9.30 pm on Friday due to the weather conditions.

The relief is expected to continue over the weekend, with the Met Office forecasting rain and windy days. The maximum temperature is expected to settle at 38 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature is likely to be at 26 degrees Celsius.

A heatwave day is registered when the day’s high for at least two weather stations touches or crosses 40 degrees Celsius with a departure of 4.5 to 6.4 degrees Celsius from normal temperature for at least two days in a row. So far, three heatwave days have been logged this month in the city between April 7 and April 9.

Meanwhile, the IMD has sounded a yellow alert for Saturday for thunderstorm or lightning activity; very light rainfall is also expected. Strong surface winds with speeds reaching up to 60 kmph have been forecast.

Sunday is also expected to be windy. Next week, between April 21 and April 24, the IMD has forecast “mainly clear sky”. No heatwave and “no warm night” conditions are expected in the Capital till April 24, as per Friday’s bulletin.

In a statement, the Met Office also said, “heat wave to severe heat wave conditions over Rajasthan are likely to abate” from Sunday onwards.