NEW DELHI: Delhi may have seen its warmest March in four years (since 2022), as the average monthly maximum temperature by March 30 stood at 32.5 degrees Celsius and minimum at 17.5 degrees Celsius. The city, however, recorded much cooler second half of the month than the first, even though mercury typically touches 40 degrees Celsius by March-end. As for the minimum temperature, a solid indicator of thermal distress, since 2011 it had been just three times when it averaged out above 17 degrees Celsius. The average monthly minimum temperature stood at 17.5 degrees Celsius, 1.9 degrees Celsius above the long-period average (LPA) of 15.6 degrees Celsius. In 2022, the monthly average was 17.6 degrees Celsius.“We have seen western disturbances, back-to-back in the second half, with rainfall – even though patchy, on multiple days. The first half was fairly dry, with clear skies and the temperatures rising day by day. It was only on March 15 that it dipped first, due to rains,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president at Skymet. He also pointed out that the first 10 days of April will remain comparatively less warm, due to impact of another western disturbance. “There wont be any heatwave for at least 10 days of April, the thermal distress will see occasional relief due to on and off rain,” said Palawat. On Monday, Delhi’s maximum was 35.1 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal. This was largely during the afternoon before overcast skies took over leading to patchy rain. Gusty winds were also recorded across Delhi-NCR, touching a maximum speed of 50 km/hr. Very light rain was recorded till 5.30pm with base station Safdarjung recording 0.5mm, Palam 0.2mm, Lodhi Road 0.7mm, Rajghat 1.6mm and Mayur Vihar 1mm rainfall respectively.The maximum temperature on Tuesday may likely go up to 34 degrees Celsius.
