After days of intense heat and rising temperatures, residents across New Delhi and the NCR region finally got relief on Saturday as rain and strong winds brought a noticeable change in the weather.
The day had started with bright sunshine and humid conditions, but dark clouds soon covered the sky across several parts of the capital. Light to moderate rainfall was reported in many areas, accompanied by gusty winds that brought down temperatures and offered relief from the harsh summer conditions.
Heatwave conditions had continued for days
Delhi had been witnessing severe heat over the past several days, with temperatures consistently crossing the 43-degree Celsius mark. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave-like conditions were recorded on Friday in parts of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab.
The Safdarjung weather station, considered the official marker for Delhi’s weather, recorded a maximum temperature of 43.3 degrees Celsius on Friday, which was more than three degrees above normal. The minimum temperature settled at 29.3 degrees Celsius.
Several other parts of the city also reported extremely high temperatures. The Ridge area recorded 44.4 degrees Celsius, while Palam, Lodhi Road and Ayanagar all remained above 43 degrees Celsius. The weather department had earlier forecast rain and strong surface winds for parts of Delhi-NCR, warning of changing weather conditions due to pre-monsoon activity.
The sudden spell of rain on Saturday brought immediate relief to commuters and residents struggling with the prolonged heatwave conditions.
Pre-monsoon activity likely to increase
Weather experts say the changing conditions could mark the beginning of pre-monsoon activity in north India. According to Skymet Weather’s Mahesh Palawat, pre-monsoon developments are likely to increase from early June, which may help reduce heat intensity in the coming days.
With cloudy skies and scattered rainfall expected to continue intermittently, Delhi residents may finally see a temporary break from the extreme summer heat.
