Strong winds, rains cool down Delhi

New Delhi, May 5 (UNI) A fresh spell of rains and strong thunderstorms today lent a cool air to the weather in Delhi, making it a pleasant weekend for Delhiites.

Strong North Easterly winds, blowing at a speed of 72 km per hour, suddenly hit the capital at around 1510 hours, followed by a short spell of heavy rains.

Though lasting for a brief while, the winds and the rain neverthless brought about a sudden coolness to the air in Delhi.

Immediately after the rain and thunderstorms, the day temperature fell by 7.5 degrees Celsius, to 31.5 degrees C.

Weathermen said a total of 7.8 mm of rainfall was recorded till 1730 hours.

The heavy winds, accompanied by duststorms, led to uprooting of trees in several areas of Delhi.

The winds and rain, which followed a heavily overcast sky in Delhi since the afternoon, continued the trend of near or below normal temperatures this week, which weathermen attribute to influence of an upper air circulation over Uttar Pradesh, which has set off cool Easterlies in Delhi in the last few days.

The respite from heat could, however, be short-lived with the weathermen saying that influence of the upper air circulation was on the wane and that the beginning of the next week could witness a return of the scorching heat wave conditions.

In fact, immediately after the end of the rainly spell, the maximum rose to 40.6 degrees C, one degree above normal.

Weathermen have forecast a rise in day temperatures in plains of Northwest India in the next two to three days.

''Current meteorological analysis suggests that gradual rise in day temperatures is likely over plains of Northwest India, during the next two to three days,''the weather office said.

The met office has forecast a mainly clear sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with duststorms or thunderstorms likely towards the evening.

They have also forecast a rise in maximum temperature to 41 degrees C tomorrow.

UNI