Seasons[edit]
Delhi lies in the landlocked Northern Plains of the Indian Subcontinent. Its climate is greatly
influenced by its proximity to the Himalayas and the Thar Desert, causing it to experience both
weather extremes. Delhi has 5 distinct seasons, viz. Summer, Rainy, Autumn, Winter and Spring.
[5]
Broadly speaking, Delhi has long and scorching summers- sub-divided into summer and monsoon
seasons, short and cold winters, and two bouts of pleasant transition seasons. Two most important
wind patterns influencing Delhi's climate are the Western Disturbance and the South-West Winds.
Summer[edit]
Summer begins in early April and continues till the end of June, with the heat peaking in May. It is
characterized by extreme heat, low humidity, very hot winds and thunderstorms. Delhi's proximity to
the Thar Desert results in hot, dry continental winds, called loo, at times blowing all across from the
West Asian mainland, making the days feel hotter. These winds, blowing over from vast land
stretches, are very hot and dry. Since the Western Disturbance depression moves eastward (and is
the reason for cyclonic occurrences in Eastern Coastal areas) by this time of the year, there is no
moisture-laden wind to increase humidity. The air therefore remains dry or very dry during day. For
most of its summer season, Delhi has a semi-arid climate.[1] Coming from Spring, the city witnesses a
spurt in day temperature around early April, whereas nights still remain pleasant. By the latter part of
April or during early May, maximum temperatures exceed 40 C while the ambience remains very
dry. Night temperatures cross the 20 C mark towards the latter part of April. May is Delhi's hottest
month during which temperatures may reach 45 C or higher.[6] This month is characterized by
frequent thunderstorms.[7] Dust storms are another feature of Delhi's summer,[8][9] and can be severe
and destructive when accompanied by strong winds, particularly under cumulonimbus formation.
[10]
These are caused due to fine dust brought along by the hot winds arriving from the desert. They
make the surroundings appear pale yellow, bring temperatures slightly down and are usually
followed by thunderstorms. Post mid-June, temperatures start falling slowly, while humidity shows a
gradual rise. A visual characteristic of summer in Delhi is the summer bloom, particularly the
blooming Bougainvillea, Amaltas, Gulmohar, Shireesh and Jacaranda trees, which look spectacular
when fully flowering during peak summer in May.[11]
Monsoon[edit]
Monsoon winds arrive in Delhi by either the end of June or the first week of July.[5] The arrival of
moisture laden South-Western winds, traveling from the Arabian Sea marks the onset of Rainy
season in Delhi. This season is marked by high levels of humidity and high heat. Day temperatures
drop below 40 C as humidity suddenly soars.[12] July is marked by high heat and relatively less
precipitation (as compared to August). This transition from scorching to sweltering heat between
June and July makes the latter feel very uncomfortable. August is Delhi's wettest month. The heat is
considerably reduced and it is relatively cooler for most part of the month. There is dense cloud
formation in the sky and at least a week of distinct, very heavy rainfall. [13] By September, the amount
and frequency of precipitation drops, though humidity remains high. [14]Towards the end of September,
moisture content in the air begins to fall and monsoon ends by early October.
Autumn[edit]
The end of monsoon marks the arrival of a transition season. Autumn arrives by early or mid
October, and is marked by very dry ambiance, warm days and pleasant nights. Maximum
temperatures drop below 30 C by late October and there is a gradual fall in average temperature.
Minimum temperature drops below 20 C.[15] During Autumn, the wind direction begins changing from
South-Westerly to North-Westerly. Around late autumn/ early winter, the variation between morning
and afternoon temperatures in a day becomes considerable, and can often be more than 20 C, with
minimum dropping to under 10 C and maximum still hovering slightly under 30 C. This season
ends by early December.
Winter[edit]
Winter arrives in Delhi by late November or early December. Minimum temperatures gradually enter
single digits by this time of the year, while days are pleasant. Though usually not cold initially,
December suddenly becomes cold in the latter half, as chilly north-western winds from
the Himalayas begin sweeping the Northern Plains. These cold waves are caused by a depression
created by Western Disturbance, which bring cloud cover and occasional winter rains to the Plains,
and add to snowfall in the North-Western Indian Subcontinent. By early January, when winter peaks
in Delhi, the minimum temperatures plunge to the vicinity of 0 C,[16] though very rarely entering the
negative scale. Maximum temperatures, too may drop down into single digits [17] and always stay
under 20 C. When the minimum temperature ventures very close to the 0 C mark, Delhi
witnesses frost.[18] Snow is a practical impossibility for Delhi (and the rest of Northern Plains) due to
very dry nature of its winter- the coldest conditions happen under clear skies when icy winds rush in
from the Himalayas, and a cloud cover (which is necessary for causing snowfall) rather warms the
city by trapping heat, thereby junking any possibility of snow. Delhi's winter is marked by very
dense fog, which dramatically reduces visibility[19] and makes days colder by cutting off sunlight. In
the opposite scenario, cold north-westerly winds from the upper reaches of Himalayas blowing
across the city makes the days feel colder, despite any sunshine and the nights further cold. [20] Post
mid-January, average temperatures begin to rise very gradually, though the rise is almost contained
by the cold north-western winds which result due to very heavy snowfall that occurs in the Himalayas
during this part of the month.[21] It may rain towards the end of January and the precipitation is usually
accompanied by hail,[22] resulting in slight increase in minimum temperatures due to cloud cover.
Maximum temperatures again cross 20 C and days become pleasant. By mid-February or
somewhat beyond, minimum temperature crosses the 10 C mark and days start getting warmer
gradually, marking the end of winter. Delhi can sometimes have prolonged season of chill, extending
into March.[23][24]
Spring[edit]
Around the middle of February, Delhi's climate sees another transition, this time from Winter to
Summer. The transition weather is known as Spring and is characterized by warm days, cool nights,
dry ambiance and lively natural surroundings.[25] The weather is pleasant and there is warm, brilliant
sunshine during the day. Spring rains[26] are a characteristic of this season. These rains may be
accompanied by hail and can be heavy. Average temperatures show a slow, gradual rise as the wind
direction shift from North-West to South-West, thereby getting warmer. Around late spring/ early
summer, the variation between morning and afternoon temperatures in a day becomes considerable,
and can often be more than 20 C, with maximum rising to mid 30's C and minimum in the mid
10's C. Spring ends by the latter half of March and the day temperatures exceed 30 C by then,
[27]
marking the onset of the next summer!
Climate Data[edit]
Temperature records for Delhi exist for a period of a little over 100 years. The lowest ever
temperature reading during this period is -2.2 C, recorded on January 11, 1967 at Met Delhi Palam.
And, the highest ever temperature reading during the same period is 48.4 C recorded on May 26,
1998, again at Met Delhi Palam.[4][28]
[hide]Climate data for Delhi (Safdarjung) 1971
Month
Record high C (F)
Average high C (F)
Daily mean C (F)
Average low C (F)
Record low C (F)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
30.0
34.1
40.6
45.6
47.2
46.7
(86)
(93.4)
(105.1)
(114.1)
(117)
(116.1)
21.0
23.5
29.2
36.0
39.2
38.8
(69.8)
(74.3)
(84.6)
(96.8)
(102.6)
(101.8)
14.3
16.8
22.3
28.8
32.5
33.4
(57.7)
(62.2)
(72.1)
(83.8)
(90.5)
(92.1)
7.6
10.1
15.3
21.6
25.9
27.8
(45.7)
(50.2)
(59.5)
(70.9)
(78.6)
(82)
0.6
1.6
4.4
10.7
15.2
18.9
(30.9)
(34.9)
(39.9)
(51.3)
(59.4)
(66)
19
20
15
21
25
70
(0.75)
(0.79)
(0.59)
(0.83)
(0.98)
(2.76)
Average precipitation days ( 1.0 mm)
1.7
2.5
2.5
2.0
2.8
5.5
Average relative humidity (%)
63
55
47
34
33
46
Mean monthly sunshine hours
214.6
216.1
239.1
261.0
263.1
196.5
Average precipitation mm (inches)
Source #1: NOAA[29]
Source #2: Indian Meteorological Department (record high an
[hide]Climate data for Delhi (Palam)
Month
Record high C (F)
Average high C (F)
Average low C (F)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
31.0
35.7
41.3
45.3
48.4
47.6
(87.8)
(96.3)
(106.3)
(113.5)
(119.1)
(117.7)
20.8
23.9
30.0
36.9
40.5
40.3
(69.4)
(75)
(86)
(98.4)
(104.9)
(104.5)
6.7
9.1
14.1
20.5
25.1
27.6
(44.1)
(48.4)
(57.4)
(68.9)
(77.2)
(81.7)
Record low C (F)
Average precipitation mm (inches)
2.2
1.6
3.4
8.6
14.6
19.8
(28)
(29.1)
(38.1)
(47.5)
(58.3)
(67.6)
18.9
16.6
10.8
30.4
29.0
54.3
(0.744)
(0.654)
(0.425)
(1.197)
(1.142)
(2.138)
Source: Indian Meteorological Department[28
Weather monitoring stations[edit]
Delhi has two weather monitoring stations, one at Safdarjung inside the main city and other at Palam
on its outskirts near the Airport. The readings at Safdarjung station are taken as those for the city,
whereas the readings at Palam station are taken as those for the Airport.
Day-length variation[edit]
Located at 283636N latitude, Delhi lies in the sub-tropical belt of earth's North Temperate
geographical region, a few latitudes north of the Tropic of Cancer. As such the rotation of earth has
its effect on the city's day-length, which shortens during winters and lengthens during summers.
Between the two solstices, Delhi's day-length changes by about 4 hours, offset by some 2 hours
each at sunrise and sunset
