Delhi recorded its coolest October morning in three years on Tuesday, with the minimum temperature falling to 15.3 degrees Celsius, while Gurgaon experienced a sharper chill and the India Meteorological Department forecast rain, thunderstorms and possible hail across the National Capital Region over the next four days.
The minimum temperature in Delhi was two degrees below normal. The city had last recorded a lower October minimum in 2023, when the mercury fell to 14.3 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature on Tuesday was 31.5 degrees Celsius and is expected to remain around 30 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
The drop in temperature has been linked to north-westerly winds bringing cooler air from the western Himalayan region. “As north-westerly winds are prevailing in the region, it is bringing cool winds from western Himalayan region, leading to a drop in the minimum temperature,” Krishna Mishra, a scientist at the IMD, was quoted as saying.
Gurgaon also saw a marked fall in temperatures. The report said the city recorded Haryana’s lowest minimum temperature of the season at 12 degrees Celsius, with the mercury falling three degrees from Monday. It separately reported a minimum temperature of 16.8 degrees Celsius in the city. Morning walkers, joggers and yoga enthusiasts in neighbourhood parks have reportedly been delaying their outdoor activity until after 8 am because of the chill.
The weather is expected to change as a severe cyclonic storm, identified in the report as ‘Arnab’, makes landfall on Wednesday. Easterly winds are then likely to begin affecting Delhi, causing minimum temperatures to rise over the following days. The IMD expects a western disturbance to influence the region from Wednesday night, bringing light to moderate rain on Thursday and Friday.
Delhi’s minimum temperature is forecast to remain between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 16 and 18 degrees Celsius on Thursday, and close to 20 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Rain is not expected from Saturday, while dry weather is forecast from October 31. Once the western disturbance passes, temperatures may fall again, with the minimum expected to reach around 15 degrees Celsius by November 2.
The change in weather could also affect Delhi’s air quality. The city’s air quality was in the ‘moderate’ category, with an Air Quality Index reading of 174 at 4 pm on Tuesday. The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi forecast deterioration to the ‘poor’ category on Wednesday, followed by a possible return to ‘moderate’ levels on Thursday and Friday.
In Gurgaon, the IMD forecast light to moderate rain and thunderstorms from Wednesday, with a possibility of hail on Thursday. A fresh western disturbance is expected to affect northwest India from the night of October 27. The IMD said weather had remained dry across Haryana during the preceding 24 hours.
