City witness lowest max temp for March in 6 years; cleanest air in six months | Delhi News
New Delhi: The capital continued to enjoy winter-like conditions on Friday as yet another day of rain and overcast skies pulled the maximum temperature further down to 21.7 degrees Celsius, which is 10 notches below normal and the lowest for March in sixyears.The air quality also turned satisfactory — for the first time this year, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 93, the best since Oct 8 last year,when it stood at 81. With a net16.2 mmof rainfall recordedtill 8.30 am Friday,this is now thewettestMarch in two years. The base station, Safdarjung, recorded 1.4 mmof rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pmon Friday alone. Just last week, the city was sweating with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius at Safdarjung. Earlier on March 8, the maximum temperature had climbed to as high as 38.9 degrees Celsius at Ridge observatory. This was 10 notches above normal. The temperature at Safdarjung on March 11 was 36.8 degrees Celsius.However, a sudden change struck the capital mere three days back on March 18, when moisture-laden winds with high temperatures led to the formation of convective clouds, which further collided with an active western disturbance. As a result, the city began to cool down with intense rain from Wednesday evening. On Friday, the maximum temperature was recorded at21.7 degrees Celsius, 10- notches belownormal compared to26.8degrees Celsiusa day earlier. This was also the lowest maximum temperature for March in six years, as the maximum temperature on March 8,2020, was recorded at 21.2 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department expects another spell of rain on March 23.The maximumtemperature is likely to increasefrom Saturday. The lowest maximum temperature was recorded at19.7degreesCelsius at Mayur Vihar. The minimum temperature was recorded at 16degreeCelsius, a notchbelownormal against17.6degrees Celsius a day earlier.On Friday, as large swatches of North India saw rain and thunderstorms, the cooling in Delhi persisted, forcing the air conditioners off. The impact, however, is expected to gradually wear off. As per IMD, the maximum temperature on Saturday is expected to hover around26-28degreesCelsius. As percentre’searly warning system, AQI is also likely to become moderate.
