Delhi experienced a warm Sunday as the mercury rose five degrees above normal, marking it as the warmest day of the season so far.

The Meteorological Department has attributed this to an approaching western disturbance which is likely to affect western Himalayan region and adjoining plains of north-west India during next three days as well.

25.6 degrees Celsius
The maximum temperature stood at 25.6 degrees Celsius, up from Saturday’s 22.6 degrees and the minimum temperature stood at 9.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal and up from the Saturday’s 6.7 degrees.
Last year, on January 15, the maximum and minimum temperatures stood at 17 and 8 degree Celsius, respectively. 

Little respite
The Met Department said Delhi got a little respite after shivering in the cold for several days as icy winds kept the mercury below normal levels. However, Monday onwards it will be cold again.

“It will be cloudy on Monday with a possibility of rain in the morning. The weather is likely to become partly cloudy towards the evening,” said a Met Department official.
The maximum temperature will be 21 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature will be 12 degrees, added the official.

Hailstorm forecast
The Met Department adds that hailstorm may occur at one or two places over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, north Rajasthan and west Uttar Pradesh.

December 2011 saw the minimum temperature come down to 2.9 degrees Celsius on Christmas morning, the lowest of the season so far.