Delhi-NCR residents experienced a rare climatic shift this week as the city had its coldest April day in three years on Tuesday. The sudden decrease in temperature was caused by heavy overcast skies and torrential rains that were more than typical for the city's hot early-summer conditions. In the afternoon, heavy showers and high-velocity wind (50 to 56 kmph) roared through the city in a moody midday atmosphere, cooling it down.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), this dramatic weather change is the result of an active western disturbance moving through Northwest India. The impact was felt on all major monitoring stations, with Safdarjung and Lodhi Road receiving 3 mm rainfall and Palam and Ridge with 2.1 mm each. Ayanagar received about 2 mm of precipitation. These are temperatures well below the seasonal average, and millions of people have been relieved.
The IMD issued a yellow alert for today, April 8, and predicted the rainy spell could last another 24 hours. It is forecast to be cloudy and accompanied by light rain and thunderstorms, and lightning is expected to take place gradually over the day and evening. Winds blowing at 30 to 50 kmph are expected to persist in the afternoon and evening, with the maximum temperature likely to be comfortably placed in the range of 25 to 26 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature is expected to be around 16 to 17 degrees Celsius. Similar conditions will be found in parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh when the system pulls out.
But experts say this refreshing cool-down will be short-lived. On April 9, the western disturbance will begin to weaken, and skies will clear out quickly. A sharp increase in mercury is expected between April 9 and April 13, with temperatures potentially reaching 37 degrees Celsius. By the weekend, with dry and hotter conditions in place, the minimum temperature will rise to about 21 degrees Celsius and mark the return to the summer heat.
