Delhi weather: Light rain, thunderstorms likely till tomorrow; dry, hotter days ahead

NEW DELHI: Delhi on Tuesday experienced overcast skies with a drop in temperature. However, the city is likely to witness light rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds until Thursday. Dry weather is predicted from Friday onwards, with the temperature expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius.According to the India Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature on Tuesday was 33.1 degrees Celsius, seven degrees below normal, at Safdarjung, which is the city's base station. It was three degrees lower than Monday's maximum temperature. In some parts of Delhi, the day temperature was lower than at Safdarjung. The maximum temperature stood at 31.1 degrees Celsius at Pusa, 31.5 degrees Celsius at Mayur Vihar, 31.7 degrees at Najafgarh, 32.6 at Lodhi Road and 32.9 degrees Celsius at Palam. The relative humidity oscillated between 47% and 79%. The minimum temperature, however, was 24.6 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal.Though the city did not witness rain from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, IMD has issued a ‘yellow' alert (be aware) for light rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds for Wednesday. No colour-coded warning has been issued from Thursday onwards, but there are chances of rain and thunderstorms on Thursday as well."The wind speed may temporarily reach up to 60 kmph during thunderstorms on Wednesday. However, there is a possibility of very light showers and thunderstorms on Thursday. Rain activity is unlikely from Friday onwards," said a Met official.The day temperature is likely to stay between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, but it may reach up to 40 degrees Celsius by Friday. It may rise further to 41 degrees Celsius by June 8. "Heatwave conditions are unlikely in the city over the next seven days," said the official.Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality continued to remain in the ‘moderate' category with an Air Quality Index of 143. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, which is the forecasting body under the Union ministry of earth sciences, the air quality is likely to stay moderate until June 6.