Delhi records coolest May in 36 years, gets massive rainfall: IMD
1 min read 01 Jun 2023, 06:58 AM ISTDelhi experienced its coolest May in 36 years with excess rainfall, bringing the average maximum temperature down to 36.8°C, the lowest since 1987, according to the India Meteorological Department.
PremiumMarking the coolest May in 36 years, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi experienced an unusually cool May in 2023. The city's average maximum temperature in May was recorded at 36.8 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1987. The IMD's regional forecasting center confirmed that Delhi's average maximum temperature for May 1987 was 36 degrees Celsius, as per PTI.
Delhi observed maximum temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius for only nine days in May, and certain areas of the national capital experienced heat wave conditions for just two days. This year, the Safdarjung Observatory, considered representative of Delhi's weather, did not report any heat wave in the pre-monsoon season, which is a departure from the trend observed since 2014.
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The pre-monsoon season in 2022 witnessed 13 heat wave days, with nine occurring in April and four in May. In contrast, this year saw only one heat wave day during the same period. Delhi recorded four heat wave days in 2020, one in 2019, and one in 2018.
May 2023 also witnessed a significant amount of rainfall in the city. Delhi received 111 mm of rainfall, which is 262% higher than the long-term average of 30.7 mm. This ranks as the fourth-highest rainfall in May, following 165 mm in 2008, 144.8 mm in 2021, and 129.3 mm in 2002, based on IMD data.
The unseasonal rainfall and cooler temperatures during the pre-monsoon season (March to May) can be attributed to an increased occurrence of western disturbances, weather systems originating from the Mediterranean region.
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This year, Delhi experienced a higher-than-usual number of western disturbances, with 10 recorded, most of which were strong ones. The normal range is usually five to six western disturbances during April and May.
However, meteorologists are cautious about directly linking these anomalies to climate change, as further data and analysis are required to establish any definitive trends. In total, Delhi received 184.3 mm of rainfall during the pre-monsoon season, which is 186% higher than the normal rainfall for the same period, according to the IMD.
(With agency inputs)
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