A day after moderate rain lashed several parts of Delhi, data from the India Meteorological Department showed that the city had recorded the wettest April since 2008. Delhi has already recorded 27.9 mm of rain till Saturday, compared to an overall rainfall of 38.6 mm in April 2008. This year's showers in early April have significantly exceeded the month's Long Period Average (LPA) of 16.3 mm.
Safdarjung, representative of the city's weather, has recorded a total amount of rainfall of 28.2 mm till Saturday. Other weather stations have also recorded a significant amount of excess rainfall as compared to the LPA. Palam recorded 35.8 mm of rainfall, while Ayanagar and Lodhi Road recorded 36.5 mm and 28.1 mm, respectively.
According to Saturday's data, Safdarjung recorded 12.4 mm of rain in 24 hours, from 8.30 am on Friday to 8.30 am on Saturday. No further rain was recorded after that.
At the same time, Palam recorded 18.6 mm of rain, while Lodhi Road recorded 12 mm of rain in the 24 hours.
An IMD official told PTI, "When we consider rainfall in a single day, Safdarjung's recorded rain in the 24 hours is highest since 2023, when the weather station recorded 16.3 mm of rain in a single day. Palam's record is the seventh highest rain in a single day for April." The highest ever for April was recorded on April 16, 1983, when Safdarjung received 134 mm of rain in a single day, and Palam recorded 117.8 mm on the same day, the official added.
According to IMD records, Delhi also received the highest-ever rain for April in 1983.
The national capital also saw a drop in the temperature on Saturday, even as the city woke up to a sunny morning with mostly clear skies.
Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 19.8 degrees Celsius, 1.8 degrees below the normal and 4.2 degrees lower than the day before. The maximum temperature was logged at 39.5 degrees Celsius, 2.7 degrees above the normal and 1.5 degrees lower than the day before.
Other weather stations showed equally dramatic drops in the minimum. Palam recorded a minimum temperature of 20.1 degrees Celsius, 4.9 degrees lower than on Friday.
Ridge logged a minimum of 20.8 degrees, 3.9 degrees lower than the day before. The maximum temperatures at Palam and Ridge were logged at 38.6 degrees and 41.3 degrees Celsius, respectively.
IMD's forecasts show no further possibility of rain in the coming days. However, partly cloudy skies are likely to persist.
Skymet Vice President Mahesh Palawat said, "The temperatures are expected to rise in the next few days, along with dry northwesterlies impacting the region. There is a possibility of a heat wave in the coming days as well." According to the forecast, the maximum temperature is expected to be around 39-41 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while the minimum temperature is likely to be around 22-24 degrees Celsius.
The city's air quality index (AQI) improved to the moderate category. The 24-hour average AQI for Saturday was recorded at 152 at 4 pm, as an AQI of 263 was recorded at the same time on Friday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
As per CPCB standards, an AQI of 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'.
The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi has forecast the AQI to remain in the moderate category for the next two days and then deteriorate to the poor category.
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