The maximum temperature on Sunday was recorded at 32.8 degrees Celsius, 4.4 degrees above what is normal for this time of the year.
Delhi is expected to see light rain on Holi on Friday, preceded by a warm week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. The maximum temperature on Sunday was recorded at 32.8 degrees Celsius, 4.4 degrees above what is normal for this time of the year. The minimum, at 13.5 degrees Celsius, was half a degree below normal. The warmest place in Delhi-NCR was Noida, with a maximum temperature of 33.1 degrees Celsius.
The temperature is expected to rise till Thursday – the maximum is expected to be around 32 degrees Celsius on all days except Tuesday, when it is expected to touch 33 degrees Celsius. The highest-ever maximum temperature in March was recorded at 40.6 degrees Celsius, on 31st in 1945. Strong winds, meanwhile, are expected on Tuesday and Wednesday. Light rain is expected on Friday, when the minimum is forecast to be 30 degrees Celsius and the minimum is likely to rise to 16 degrees Celsius.
The air quality index (AQI), meanwhile, dipped to poor, at 209, on Sunday. The primary pollutants were Ozone and PM 10. The overall AQI in the warmer months, however, is better than that in winter months, as low temperatures and calm winds aid the accumulation of particulate matter. The IMD forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday – strong surface winds – is expected to bring improvement in the AQI, from poor to moderate.
The predominant surface wind (on Tuesday) will likely be from the northwest direction with a wind speed of less than 18 kmph during morning hours. The wind speed will gradually increase thereafter becoming 20-22 kmph from the northwest direction during the afternoon. It will decrease to less than 8 kmph, coming from northwest direction, during evening and night on Wednesday,” the forecast from the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, Ministry of Earth Sciences, said.