Sultry conditions return after week of cool weather

New Delhi, Mar 8 (UNI) Sultry weather has returned to the capital, after a week of relatively cool weather, which saw a fresh wave of western disturbances bring the mercury to ten degrees Celsius last Tuesday, the lowest level over the last one month.

With the maximum temperature today touching a high of 34 degrees Celsius, nearly six degree above normal, the scorching weather that has characterised the weather in Delhi since the beginning of February - with the minimum and maximum temperatures hovering at around 18 degree Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius respectively - seems to have resurfaced.

And, although the minimum temperature today was recorded at 14.9 degree Celsius, one degree above normal, the bright sunlight in the sky left people in Delhi perspiring.

The return to sultry weather in the capital is due to the decreasing influence of the North Westerlies, which had brought about a sudden turnaround in the weather in the capital for the whole of last week.

In fact, the last week saw minimum temperature witness a drop for four consecutive days - while the mercury plummeted to 14 degree celsius on February 28, from about 17 degrees Celsius on February 27, it further dropped to 12.8 degrees Celsius on March 1 and further to 12.5 degrees Celsius on March 2.

Though the hot weather at this time of the year may seem a normal occurrence with Holi, which heralds the beginning of Summer, just a week away, the coming days could witness a drop in mercury with weathermen predicting a fresh spell of rainfall in Delhi, Himachal and Jammu and Kashmir in the next few days.

The BBC too has predicted a drop in maximum temperature to 29 degree celsius by the end of the week.

UNI AR VD ND1908