Delhi is likely to witness clear skies on Friday with a hot day and a maximum temperature of 39 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperature recorded on Thursday was 37.9 degrees Celsius, which is one degree less than long term average, The minimum temperature in the early hours of Friday was recorded at 23.2 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal. At 8.30 am on Friday, the temperature was 30.4 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity was 59 percent.
According to the forecast of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature is likely to rise to 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend. The maximum temperature is likely to rise by about two to four degrees over most parts of Northwest India during the next five days.
For the week from 23rd to 29th June, the rain activity is likely to remain subdued over Northwest India till 25th June, but is likely to increase with moisture-laden easterly winds till the end of the week. According to the IMD’s Extended Range Forecast released on Thursday, for the next week, from June 30 to July 6, due to easterly winds and western disturbances, northwest India is likely to receive rain for most of the day. During the week of 30 June to 6 July, Southwest Monsoon is also likely to cover the entire country.
In Delhi, as per the IMD’s forecast for the next six days, it will rain as per the forecast from June 27 to 30. While there is a possibility of light rain on June 27 and 28, there is a possibility of thunderstorms on June 29 and 30. With the rains, the maximum temperature is likely to drop to around 35 degree Celsius by June 30.
A Western Disturbance brought rain over Northwest India from June 17 to 22. Cloudy skies and rain have kept the maximum temperature in Delhi below 40 degrees Celsius since June 17. Despite rain earlier this month, Delhi has recorded deficient rainfall this month. The Safdarjung Meteorological Center has recorded 24.5 mm of rain so far this month, which is below the normal 48.3 mm till June 24.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Thursday stood at 140, in the ‘moderate’ category, with PM10 and ozone being the major pollutants.