Rain, hailstorm catch Delhi unawares, mercury drops

Sudden rains accompanied by cold winds and hailstorms lashed several parts of the city today, causing a major dip in the mercury which brought back chilly conditions in the national capital and adjoining areas.
The Met department has forecast similar weather conditions for at least two more days.
"Rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstorms in Punjab, Harynana and Delhi today is due to a western disturbance. The impact of the disturbance will continue till Sunday and similar weather conditions will prevail. From Monday, however, the skies will clear up," IMD director B P Yadav said.
It was sunny day in the city till afternoon when clouds gathered in the sky leading to rains.

The Safdarjung observatory, which is the official reading for Delhi, recorded 7.6 mm rainfall, while areas under Lodhi road, Ridge, Ayanagar and Palam recorded 8.6 mm, 3.6 mm,1.2 mm and 12.7 mm rainfall respectively.
The minimum temperature settled at 12.5 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average while the maximum temperature was recorded 27.6 degrees Celsius, also a notch below the normal, MeT officials said.
Humidity in air oscillated between 95 and 40 per cent.
"The skies will be partly cloudy tomorrow. One or two spells of light rain or thundershowers would occur in some areas. There will be mist or shallow fog in the morning. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover at 27 and 15 degrees C respectively," said the MeT forecast.