Delhi-NCR sees light rain, cloudy skies offer relief from heatwave

Light rainfall and cloudy skies brought much-needed relief to residents across parts of Delhi-NCR on Saturday morning after days of intense heatwave conditions.

Several areas of the national capital received light showers, while neighbouring Noida also witnessed rainfall.

Grey clouds covered the sky in Ghaziabad, and cool breezes offered respite from the sweltering heat.

The brief spell of rain and cloudy weather led to a noticeable dip in temperatures after the city endured scorching conditions over the past few days.

However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had on Friday issued an orange alert for heatwave conditions in parts of Delhi from Saturday till May 28.

According to the weather department, the maximum temperature is expected to hover between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius on Saturday, and between 44 and 46 degrees Celsius from Sunday to May 28.

Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 29.3 degrees Celsius on Friday, three notches above normal.

However, the city did not meet the criteria for a “warm night”, which the IMD declares when the maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature remains at least 4.5 degrees above normal.

On Thursday, Delhi experienced the season’s first warm night as the minimum temperature rose to 31.9 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal.

It was also the warmest May night in the city since May 27, 2012, when the minimum temperature had touched 34.2 degrees Celsius.

The IMD has predicted that the minimum temperature is likely to remain between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius on Saturday and between 29 and 31 degrees Celsius on Monday.