Delhi Witnesses Rare Fog, Records 3rd Coldest May Morning Since 1901. Weather Dept Officials Reveal Reason

May has historically been the hottest month of the year in Delhi with a mean maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius, weather department officials revealed the cause behind the fog seen today.

National capital New Delhi witnessed an unusual shallow fog on Thursday morning causing residents to debate the unique weather condition as they are used to sultry weather this time of the year. The minimum temperature on Thursday dropped to 15.8 degrees Celsius, making it the third coldest morning in May since 1901. The unusual fog was seen after the capital witnessed an unexpected pattern of cloudy skies, sporadic rain, and cool weather, which officials attribute to back-to-back western disturbances affecting northwest India.

May has historically been the hottest month of the year in the city with a mean maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius. Seeing the fog, several Delhi residents posted videos and pictures of fog blanketing the city's skyline on social media.

Weather Officials On Rare Fog In Delhi

According to news agency PTI, weather department officials said that high moisture content in the air, calm winds, and a significant difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures create conditions that are favourable for the formation of fog.

Shallow fog is when visibility is between 501 and 1,000 metres, according to the IMD.

The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, recorded 30 mm of rainfall in 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Thursday, as per PTI.

The Observatory registered a maximum temperature of 30.6 degrees Celsius, nine notches below normal, on Wednesday and a minimum temperature of 15.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, the third lowest in the month since the weather keeping started in 1901.

The all-time low of 15.1 degrees Celsius was recorded on May 2, 1969. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 15.2 degrees Celsius on May 2, 1982.

Humidity levels oscillated between 80 per cent and 100 per cent at most places in the city. 

Another Spell Of Rain Likely In Delhi From Tomorrow

Another spell of rain is likely from Friday onwards, weather officials told PTI. Delhi recorded more than 20 mm of rainfall in April, the highest in the month since 2017, due to back-to-back western disturbances.

The Safdarjung Observatory recorded the maximum temperature at least 10 degrees below normal on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday due to intermittent rainfall and cloudy weather under the influence of successive western disturbances.

The maximum temperature settled at 28.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday and dropped to 26.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, making it the coolest first day of May ever since the weather record began being registered in the country. The city recorded a maximum of 28.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

Another western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India starting May 5. Under its influence, cloudy skies and sporadic rain is predicted in the capital until May 7, an IMD official said, as per PTI.

The maximum temperature is predicted to remain below 35 degrees Celsius until May 8.

The Met office has predicted below-normal maximum temperatures and fewer heatwave days in northwest India in May.