Delhi-NCR woke up to an unusual spell of dense fog and cloud cover on Saturday (March 21) morning, a day after heavy rainfall and thunderstorms brought asharp dip in temperatures, delivering the coldest March day in six years and a noticeable improvement in air quality across the region. The sudden weather shift comes as a relief for residents who had been experiencing rising heat in early March.
According to India Meteorological Department, the capital will see a partly cloudy sky with temperatures ranging between 26–28°C (max) and 13–15°C (min) on Saturday, while light winds through the day will keep conditions pleasant and slightly cooler than usual for late March.
According to data from IMD, the Safdarjung Observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 21.7°C, nearly 10°C below the seasonal average on Friday. Other parts of the city, including Palam and Lodhi Road, reported similar dips, marking thelowest March temperatures since 2020.
Just days before this intense heat had grip Delhi, with temperatures touching 36°C at Safdarjung and peaking at 38.9°C at Ridge observatory on March 8, by March 11, Safdarjung still recorded a high of 36.8°C, well above normal.
The shift began around March 18, when moisture-laden winds combined with an active western disturbance, triggering the formation of convective clouds and bringing heavy rainfall. By Friday, the maximum temperature plunged to 21.7°C, nearly 10 degrees below normal and the lowest for March in six years, close to the 21.2°C recorded on March 8, 2020.
The city's average rainfall for the month is 16.2 mm, making it the wettest March since 2023, when the average stood at 50.4 mm. A long rain band stretching across North India further intensified the cooling effect, forcing residents to pull out light woollens once again.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast another spell of rain on March 23, after which temperatures are expected to gradually rise again from the weekend.
According to India Meteorological Department, temperatures will gradually rise over the week, touching 31–33°C by March 25–26, with mostly partly cloudy skies; however, a brief spell of light rain or thunderstorm is possible around March 23, after which dry and warmer conditions are expected to dominate.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the minimum temperature on Saturday is expected to be around 14 degrees Celsius and the maximum 27 degrees Celsius. No rain was recorded in the morning, unlike Friday, when the city recorded 7 mm of precipitation.
22 March— Generally cloudy sky predicted for the day. Temperatures reach 30°/16° with moderate humidity of 90/65.
Source: India Latest News, Breaking News Today, Top News Headlines | Times Now
