Jan ends on a rainy note, max temp drops to 18.6°C

The Capital recorded its first notable spell of rain this year on Wednesday which pushed the maximum temperature down by 2.8 degrees and ended what was a dry and unusually cold January with a reading of 18.6 degrees Celsius (C), the India Meteorological Department said. It was 21.4°C on Tuesday.

- Aheli Das

Data from the weather agency shows that January 2024 was the driest since 2016 when the Capital recorded only "trace" rainfall. In January this year too, Delhi received "trace" rainfall a 100% deficit from the seasonal average of 19.1mm. Rainfall recorded after 8.30am on the last day of a month is counted as part of the next month's total. As proper rain on Wednesday was only recorded post 8.30am, there was 100% deficit monthly average.

This was also the second coldest January in 74 years since 1951, when the maximum temperature capped at 21 degrees Celsius (C). In January 2024, the average maximum temperature was 17.7 (°C). The coldest January since 1951 was in 2003 when the average maximum was logged at 17.6°C.

IMD attributed Wednesday's rain to a western disturbance influencing the northern plains and added that a "very dense" layer of fog also blanketed the city in the early hours.

According to data from Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station, the city recorded 8.5mm of rain till 5.30 pm on Wednesday.