New Delhi, May 4 : Unusual shallow fog descended upon Delhi on Thursday morning, surprising residents accustomed to hot and sultry weather during May. With a historical mean maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius, May has always been the hottest month in the city. However, the minimum temperature dropped to 15.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, making it the third coldest May morning since 1901.
This unexpected weather pattern, characterized by cloudy skies, sporadic rain, and cool weather, is due to consecutive western disturbances affecting northwest India, according to weather officials. Residents posted videos and pictures of fog-covered cityscapes on social media, expressing their amazement and disbelief.
High moisture content in the air, calm winds, and a considerable difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures are conditions favorable for fog formation, said weather department officials. The Indian Meteorological Department defines shallow fog as visibility between 501 and 1,000 meters.
The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi’s primary weather station, recorded 30 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am on Thursday. On Wednesday, it logged a maximum temperature of 30.6 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal, and on Thursday, a minimum temperature of 15.8 degrees Celsius, the third-lowest for the month since 1901.
Humidity levels in most areas of the city fluctuated between 80% and 100%. The IMD predicts another spell of rain from Friday onwards.
In April, Delhi received more than 20 mm of rainfall, the highest for the month since 2017, due to consecutive western disturbances. Due to intermittent rainfall and cloudy weather under the influence of successive western disturbances, the Safdarjung Observatory recorded the maximum temperature at least 10 degrees below normal on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The maximum temperature on Sunday settled at 28.7 degrees Celsius, dropping to 26.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, marking the coolest first day of May since weather recording began in the country, and recording a maximum of 28.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
Another western disturbance is expected to impact northwest India from May 5 onwards. Cloudy skies and sporadic rain are predicted in the capital until May 7, with below-normal maximum temperatures and fewer heatwave days, according to the Met office.
