Weather in Delhi-NCR aset to take a turn again today; strong winds and rain forecast, offering relief from the heat.

Delhi’s weather, which has been warming up again over the past two or three days, is set to take another turn on Thursday. Clouds will remain overcast throughout the day. There is a likelihood of thunderclouds forming, lightning strikes, and light rainfall accompanied by dust storms and winds gusting at speeds of 20 to 30 km per hour. The minimum temperature is expected to hover around 18 degrees, while the maximum is likely to reach 34 degrees.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, bright sunshine brought back the sensation of summer heat. The maximum temperature was recorded at 33.5 degrees Celsius—two degrees above the seasonal average. Conversely, the minimum temperature stood at 16.4 degrees Celsius—0.9 degrees below average. Humidity levels in the air ranged from 94 percent to 33 percent. The lowest maximum temperature—30.0 degrees—was recorded at Mungeshpur, while the lowest minimum temperatures—15.7 degrees—were observed at Lodhi Road and Aya Nagar.

Weather Changes Driven by Western Disturbances

Mahesh Palawat, a meteorologist at Skymet Weather, stated, “This March has witnessed unusual rainfall. Typically, this month sees only sporadic pre-monsoon showers; however, this time around, rainfall has occurred on multiple occasions. The underlying cause is a series of Western Disturbances, one of which has been active since March 15 and is approaching at a lower-than-usual altitude.”

Anticipation of Dust Storms

He further added that another Western Disturbance has created a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan and the adjoining regions of northwestern Rajasthan and western Haryana. Consequently, there is a possibility of strong winds, light rainfall, and dust storms affecting certain parts of Delhi on Thursday. “Although this weather system will not have any immediate, significant impact on temperatures, its effects will become more pronounced towards the end of the month.”

Likelihood of Rain Towards Month-End

Providing details on the weather forecast, Palawat noted that there is a likelihood of rainfall occurring towards the end of the month. “Between March 29 and March 31, widespread rainfall is expected across large parts of the country.” "Due to this prolonged rainfall, a drop in temperature is expected, and by the end of March, daytime temperatures are likely to reach the mid-20s (degrees Celsius).

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Delhi’s AQI remained in the ‘Moderate’ category, standing at 183. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System, the air quality is likely to remain in the ‘Moderate’ category from Thursday through March 28."