New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS) Delhi-NCR is likely to witness a significant shift in weather from Wednesday, with the recent spell of rain and thunderstorms expected to give way to predominantly dry conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast mainly clear skies over the national capital and neighbouring areas, with dry weather likely to prevail across Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh through the first week of October.
The change comes after showers on Tuesday brought a noticeable chill to Delhi, with temperatures briefly giving the national capital a winter-like feel. However, the latest weather forecast indicates that rainfall activity is likely to subside from Wednesday, particularly over northwest India.
Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and parts of Uttar Pradesh are expected to remain largely dry as the recent rain and thunderstorm activity weakens. Delhi is likely to record a minimum temperature of around 24 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature of nearly 33 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
While northwest India is expected to remain mostly dry, weather conditions across the rest of the country are likely to remain varied. Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue over parts of southern, eastern and northeastern India.
According to the IMD forecast, isolated heavy rainfall is likely over several areas of the Northeast and southern peninsula on Wednesday. The southern peninsula is expected to remain one of the major rain-affected regions, with some areas likely to receive heavy showers.
The IMD has classified Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi as dry on Wednesday. Similar conditions are expected over Punjab, Rajasthan and most parts of Uttar Pradesh.
The contrasting weather conditions across different regions are being influenced by several atmospheric systems currently active over the country.
A depression over coastal Myanmar and the adjoining Bay of Bengal was moving rapidly north-northwestwards on Tuesday. The system was expected to weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area later on September 29 and continue moving towards southeast Bangladesh and adjoining northeastern parts of India.
At the same time, a western disturbance and associated upper-air systems continue to influence parts of north India. Another circulation and trough are extending across southern India. The interaction and movement of these systems are contributing to the contrasting weather patterns being observed across the country.
The IMD also recorded heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Haryana during the 24 hours ending Tuesday morning. The rainfall highlights the intensity of the recent spell over parts of north India, even as the broader weather pattern is now expected to turn predominantly dry.
The southwest monsoon is also continuing its gradual withdrawal from the country as the rainy season approaches its conclusion. With the monsoon retreating, northwest India is expected to gradually transition towards predominantly dry weather.
However, rainfall activity is likely to persist in several other parts of the country.
Uttarakhand may experience isolated rain and thunderstorms through October 4, while Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh could witness similar weather conditions between October 2 and 4. Himachal Pradesh may also receive isolated showers during the period.
In central India, rain and thunderstorms are likely over parts of Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh in the coming days.
The Northeast is expected to remain relatively wetter, with rainfall forecast over Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura through October 4. Some areas may also receive heavy rainfall.
Southern India is likely to remain another significant zone of rainfall. The IMD has forecast isolated heavy showers over parts of the southern peninsula during the next four to five days, with Tamil Nadu, Kerala and South Interior Karnataka among the areas likely to receive heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) readings included Mandir Marg at 97, Aya Nagar at 79, Punjabi Bagh at 113, CRRI Mathura Road at 138, Pusa at 149, Sirifort at 105, IGI Airport (T3) at 101, Commonwealth Sports Complex at 122, North Campus at 122, R K Puram at 122, ITO at 86, IIT Delhi at 140, DTU at 100, Wazirpur at 134, Jahangirpuri at 153, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 105, Anand Vihar at 105 and Cantonment Area at 105.
–IANS
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