New Delhi: Rainfall swept across various areas of Delhi on Saturday, providing much-needed relief to residents after a notably warm February. The weather in the capital had seen an average maximum temperature of 26.7 degrees Celsius throughout the month, according to reports from the weather department.
On February 28, the India Meteorological Department had predicted light to moderate rain, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds for Delhi-NCR during the night. The forecast indicated that similar weather conditions were expected in several locations, including Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Manesar, and Ballabhgarh, as well as parts of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Despite the rain, Friday saw a maximum temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, slightly above the seasonal average, while the minimum was recorded at 18.4 degrees Celsius, the second highest for the month. Earlier in the week, Delhi experienced rain and thunderstorms, with expectations of continued similar weather into the weekend.
Looking ahead, the weather office has indicated that India may face a warmer-than-usual March, with an increase in heatwave days. February’s average minimum temperature was recorded at 11.6 degrees Celsius, the highest for the month in six years, matching figures last seen in 2017. Notably, February 27 marked the warmest night in 74 years, with a minimum temperature of 19.5 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 32.4 degrees Celsius, making it the hottest day of the month.
In comparison to last year, rainfall in February was less frequent, with only four rainy days recorded, down from six in 2024.