October unusually warm, lack of rain to blame

People’s hopes of enjoying cool weather in October after braving a hot summer have been dashed with the mercury remaining above normal in the Capital for the past 10 days.

The absence of western disturbances, which bring rain and snowfall in the hilly regions of north India, is the primary cause behind the October heat, said experts at the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The data from the department said the minimum temperature had been hovering around 20°C in the past week. This is three degrees above normal. The normal maximum temperature should be around 31°C, but it has remained around 35°C. No wonder, air conditioners are still being run in offices and houses. “The temperature is above normal by four to five degrees. This is due to the absence of a western disturbance,” said RK Jenamani, a scientist with the IMD.

The only source of rainfall and snowfall in north India is extra-tropical storms known as western disturbances.

Another IMD scientist said, “There are no clouds, hence there are no north-westerly winds in the region, leading to the temperature remaining high in northwest India. The easterly winds are prevalent over the Indo-Gangetic plains. These are not allowing the temperature to dip. Moreover, since there is no western disturbance, there is no snowfall and rainfall. These weather patterns are stopping the dip in the temperature.”

A marginal dip in the temperature is expected by October 31. The lowest minimum temperature last recorded in Delhi was 12.5°C on October 29, 2020. On October 26, the lowest minimum temperature recorded in the Capital was 13.5°C. While the southwest monsoon withdrew on October 2, Delhi which usually sees rain in the month failed to receive a single shower.

IMD experts said that there was no possibility of rain even till the month-end.