Delhi woke up to an unusually cool morning on Sunday as the minimum temperature at Safdarjung fell to 21 degree Celsius, making it the coldest September morning in 18 years. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the reading was the second-lowest September minimum temperature recorded at the station since 2001.
The temperature was 2.9 degrees below the seasonal average, while the maximum temperature settled at 30.6 degree Celsius, around 3.7 degrees below normal.
Delhi sees sharp drop in temperatures
The latest dip came after rainfall in the capital and widespread showers across several neighbouring states. On Saturday, Safdarjung had recorded a minimum of 23.2 degrees.
The IMD data showed that Delhi's lowest September minimum temperature since 2001 was 20.8 degree Celsius, recorded on September 6, 2008. The third-lowest was 21.1 degree Celsius on September 19, 2024.
Weather scientist Krishna Mishra said the 21-degree minimum at Safdarjung was the second-lowest recorded since 2001.
Temperatures were even lower at some other weather stations across Delhi-NCR. Ridge recorded 16.8 degree Celsius, while Palam saw 19.2 degree Celsius. Lodi Road and Ayanagar recorded minimum temperatures of 21 degree Celsius and 21.2 degree Celsius, respectively.
Rainfall brings cooler conditions
Delhi received 5 mm of rain between 8:30 pm on Saturday and 8:30 am on Sunday. Some parts of the city had also received around 5 mm of post-monsoon rain on Saturday.
The rainfall was linked to a deep depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal interacting with a western disturbance. The system brought rain across several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Mishra said the widespread rain, particularly intense in parts of Uttar Pradesh, contributed to the lower minimum temperatures in Delhi and nearby areas. Several states also recorded daytime temperatures below normal.
Drier days ahead
The IMD has forecast cloudy skies in Delhi on Monday, with temperatures likely to remain between 21 and 32 degree Celsius. No rainfall is expected from Monday, with conditions likely to turn drier as the southwest monsoon continues to withdraw.
The monsoon withdrew from southwest Delhi on September 23, two days earlier than usual. Safdarjung recorded 728.6 mm of rainfall during the season, 16 per cent above its long-period average of 629.7 mm.