Light rains bring mercury down

New Delhi: It was a pleasant day in the national capital as light rains in some parts of the city brought the mercury down.

The maximum temperature settled at 29.5 degrees Celsius, seven notches below the season's average, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 19.0 degrees Celsius, three notches below the normal, a Met department official said.

The humidity oscillated between 82 and 54 per cent.

The Safdarjung observatory, recording of which is considered the official figure for the city, received 1 mm rains till 8.30 am after which it recorded traces of rainfall till 5.30 pm.

Areas under Palam, Lodhi, Ridge and Ayanagar recorded 1.8, 1.4, 0.2 and 2.5 mm rains respectively till 8.30 am, the official said.

Palam, Ridge and Ayanagar recorded 0.8, 0.8 and 0.2 mm rainfall respectively between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. Lodhi Road recorded traces of rainfall during the same period, the official said.

The Met office has forecast overcast skies for Thursday along with the possibility of light rains and thundershowers.

"The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to hover at 33 and 18 degrees Celsius respectively," the weatherman said.

This activity of light rain, thundershower and dust storm, which has been occurring since April 15 over north west and central India is due to a strong western disturbance and also due to moisture coming from Bay of Bengal, B P Yadav, the head of the IMD's Regional Meteorological Centre, said.

From Thursday onwards, over the next three days the skies will get clearer over the northwest India and the mercury will gradually rise, he said.

On Tuesday, the maximum and minimum temperatures settled at 30.7 and 22 degrees Celsius respectively.