Rain surprise makes this Delhi’s wettest April since 2010

New Delhi: Intense rain that caught the city off guard has given Delhi its wettest April since 2010, even as maximum temperatures continued to hover above normal on Saturday, offering only temporary and limited relief from the heat.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there is unlikely to be any major change in maximum temperatures over the next three days, followed by a rise of 2-3 degrees Celsius thereafter.

With 12.4 mm of rainfall recorded over the past 24 hours, Delhi’s cumulative rainfall for April has reached 28.2 mm — 147% above the normal of 16.3 mm for the month so far. This is the highest April rainfall recorded since 2010. As per IMD data, the second-highest April rainfall was 27.7 mm, recorded in 2015.

On Saturday, the city’s maximum temperature stood at 39.5 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, but lower than Friday’s season’s highest of 41 degrees Celsius. The Ridge area recorded the highest temperature of the day at 41.3 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature dropped to 19.8 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, compared with 24 degrees Celsius a day earlier, reflecting the cooling impact of the rain.

IMD said maximum temperatures are expected to hover between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius on Sunday and 38 to 40 degrees Celsius on Monday. “No large change in maximum temperatures is expected during the next three days, with a rise of 2-3°C thereafter,” the department said.

The rain also brought temporary relief to air quality. The Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to 152, or ‘moderate’, on Saturday, from 263 (‘poor’) a day earlier.

According to the Early Warning System, air quality is likely to remain in the moderate category on April 19 and 20, slip back to poor on April 21.

Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said a 15-day drive in March-April found several violations. It has proposed closure for nine units, sealing of diesel generator sets in 18, show-cause notices for 11, and environmental compensation for six, with 46 enforcement actions since April 2.