New Delhi:
Unexpected showers coupled with strong winds lashed the national capital tonight, taking those heading home by surprise and bringing the mercury down from above normal levels witnessed during the day.
The mercury had jumped to levels well above normal during the day in the city, which witnessed a warm and pleasant day, signaling an early end to the winter season.
But as night progressed, a western disturbance brought rains to the capital bringing down the minimum temperature by over six points to 20 degree Celsius. The maximum was recorded at 26.2 degree Celsius, four degrees above normal.
"The rains are result of a western disturbance," a Met official said, adding that the downpours started after 8 pm.
Strong winds also added to the chill. While the wind velocity was around 5-6 km per hour at around 8:30 pm, it gradually gained speed later and was around 10 km per hour.
The minimum temperature overnight was recorded at 14.6 degree Celsius, seven degrees above normal for this time of the season. The humidity oscillated between 57 and 83 per cent.
Yesterday was a warm day for the Delhiites as the maximum temperature climbed to 27.1 degree Celsius during the day time, a good five degrees above the normal level and the minimum at 12.7 degree Celsius.
Weather officials predicted a partly clouded sky with possibility of rain and thunder showers accompanied with hail or squall tomorrow.
Delhi witnessed the season's warmest day on Saturday when the mercury had settled at a maximum of 29.8 degree Celsius.
According to Met statistics, the record for the highest maximum for the month of February was 34.1 degree Celsius - recorded on the 26th of 2006.
In the last decade, the minimum dropped below 5 degree Celsius twice. In 2002, the minimum dropped to 2.9 degree Celsius on February 2, while it dropped to 3.7 degree Celsius on February 4, 2001.
Last year, the city had received 30.1 mm of rains in the month of February, while the highest for the month in this decade was recorded in 2007 when the rain gauge measured 76.2 mm.
The mercury had jumped to levels well above normal during the day in the city, which witnessed a warm and pleasant day, signaling an early end to the winter season.
But as night progressed, a western disturbance brought rains to the capital bringing down the minimum temperature by over six points to 20 degree Celsius. The maximum was recorded at 26.2 degree Celsius, four degrees above normal.
"The rains are result of a western disturbance," a Met official said, adding that the downpours started after 8 pm.
Strong winds also added to the chill. While the wind velocity was around 5-6 km per hour at around 8:30 pm, it gradually gained speed later and was around 10 km per hour.
The minimum temperature overnight was recorded at 14.6 degree Celsius, seven degrees above normal for this time of the season. The humidity oscillated between 57 and 83 per cent.
Yesterday was a warm day for the Delhiites as the maximum temperature climbed to 27.1 degree Celsius during the day time, a good five degrees above the normal level and the minimum at 12.7 degree Celsius.
Weather officials predicted a partly clouded sky with possibility of rain and thunder showers accompanied with hail or squall tomorrow.
Delhi witnessed the season's warmest day on Saturday when the mercury had settled at a maximum of 29.8 degree Celsius.
According to Met statistics, the record for the highest maximum for the month of February was 34.1 degree Celsius - recorded on the 26th of 2006.
In the last decade, the minimum dropped below 5 degree Celsius twice. In 2002, the minimum dropped to 2.9 degree Celsius on February 2, while it dropped to 3.7 degree Celsius on February 4, 2001.
Last year, the city had received 30.1 mm of rains in the month of February, while the highest for the month in this decade was recorded in 2007 when the rain gauge measured 76.2 mm.
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