Temperature rises in Delhi, rain unlikely before September 25

NEW DELHI: Delhiites experienced a sweltering and muggy Sunday, with the maximum temperature rising to 36 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal. Similar conditions are likely to continue till Tuesday and India Meteorological Department said a rain spell of very light to light shower might start from the night of Sept 25.

The city recorded its second-highest maximum temperature of the month since Sept 4, the day it was 36.2 degrees Celsius. Delhi has had a predominantly wet Sept, with rainfall occurring on 14 days and a total monthly rainfall of 192.5mm. Rain on most days kept the maximum temperature relatively low. The maximum temperature even dropped below 30 degrees Celsius on four occasions this month. As rain has taken a pause in the city, the mercury is rising again gradually.

"As the city did not record any substantial rainfall in the past few days, the day temperature has been rising. It is likely to hover around 36 degrees Celsius for the next two days," said a Met official. On Saturday the maximum temperature was 34.7 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature on Sunday stood at 25.4 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, as against 25 degrees Celsius a day earlier. The relative humidity oscillated between 52% and 97%.

Meanwhile, the city's air quality continued to remain in the ‘moderate' category. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded 164 on Sunday as against 116 a day earlier. The air quality is predicted to stay in the ‘moderate' category till Wednesday.