Delhi sees coolest May in 36 years; wet spell continues in Haryana, Punjab

Delhi recorded its coolest May in 36 years with excess rainfall bringing the average maximum temperature down to 36.8 degrees Celsius this time, according to the IMD. Many parts of Haryana and Punjab received a fresh spell of rain, keeping the minimum temperature below the season’s normal, the weather department said on Thursday.

June started on a cooler note in Delhi with overcast skies and the after-effect of rains over the last few days.

The capital’s primary weather station, Safdarjung Observatory, recorded a minimum temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius on Thursday, six notches below normal.

Generally cloudy skies, light rain and gusty winds are predicted during the day. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 35 degrees Celsius, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

Delhi recorded its coolest May in 36 years with excess rainfall bringing the average maximum temperature down to 36.8 degrees Celsius this time, according to the IMD.

Kuldeep Srivastava, the head of the regional forecasting centre of IMD, said Delhi had recorded an average maximum temperature of 36 degrees Celsius in May 1987.

“The average maximum temperature of 36.8 degrees Celsius in May this year is the lowest since then,” he said.

Delhi recorded maximum temperatures above the 40-degree mark for just nine days in May with heat wave conditions affecting some parts of the national capital for two days.