New Delhi, May 5 (PTI) Coming on the heels of a period marked by searing heat, hailstones on Tuesday battered parts of the national capital along with thunderstorms, leading to a sharp drop in temperatures and the cleanest air of the year in the city.
Several areas, including Dwarka and the IGI Airport, experienced intense hail showers, catching residents off guard, yet bringing much-needed respite from the summer heat. The AQI remained in the ‘satisfactory’ category for the second consecutive day.
In terms of rainfall, Palam recorded 9.8 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, followed by Ayanagar at 1.4 mm, while Safdarjung recorded only trace rainfall and Lodi Road and Ridge reported none during this period.
Till 8.30 am, Ridge recorded 11.9 mm rainfall,
followed by Lodi Road at 6.1 mm and Safdarjung at 4.6 mm, while Palam recorded only trace rainfall and Ayanagar reported none.
The city remains under a yellow alert, with the weather department forecasting rain and thunderstorms in isolated areas later in the evening and night.
The national capital recorded below-normal maximum temperatures across all major weather stations, with Safdarjung logging a high of 33.6 degrees Celsius, 5.7 degrees below normal, while Palam recorded 32.8 degrees Celsius, 7.3 degrees below normal.
Lodi Road registered a maximum of 32.2 degrees Celsius, 5.8 degrees below normal, Ridge 32.8 degrees Celsius, 7.2 degrees below normal, and Ayanagar logged 32.8 degrees Celsius, 8.0 degrees below normal.
Minimum temperatures also remained below seasonal averages at most stations, with Safdarjung recording 19.6 degrees Celsius, 5.1 degrees below normal.
Palam logged a minimum of 21.1 degrees Celsius, 4.5 degrees below normal, while Lodi Road recorded 18.6 degrees Celsius, 4.4 degrees below normal. Ridge saw a sharper dip at 17.7 degrees Celsius, 7.3 degrees below normal, and Ayanagar reported 22.4 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degrees below normal.
Mahesh Palawat, vice president of Skymet, said “A fresh western disturbance has been influencing the region in the past few days, leading to a cyclonic circulation over adjoining areas. Light rain might occur in parts of the city tonight and there is less possibility of heatwave at least for the next one week.” Meanwhile, the city recorded its cleanest May day in three years as the Air Quality Index (AQI) settled at 86 in the ‘satisfactory’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
“Delhi records its lowest daily average AQI of the current year today with average AQI clocking 86 at 4.00 pm,” CAQM said in a post on X.
Following overnight showers and a cloudy morning, with hail and rain returning in the afternoon, the AQI improved from 88 recorded a day earlier, which was also in the ‘satisfactory’ category.
According to data from CREA, the previous lowest AQI recorded in May in recent years was 85 on May 31, 2023.
As per the CPCB, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’. PTI SGV PRK
