Climate Of Delhi

The climate of Delhi is quite humid and falls in the subtropical category. The degree of precipitation also is quite high here and the temperatures during the winter and summer seasons are at extreme levels. There are other big cities like Sao Paulo, Tokyo and Brisbane that experience the humid subtropical climate, but Delhi is a far different case, because the state gets frequent dust storms, has very chilly winters and a long hot spell of summer season. This is distinct because, dust storms are usually seen only in deserts. Come first week of April every year and the summer season arrives in Delhi. While the average temperature is 32 degrees, during May, when the season is at its harshest, temperatures even soar up to 45 degrees. Delhi becomes more pleasant with the arrival of monsoon season that lasts till June end and mid-week of September. Heavy rain lashes the place during this time and the city receives on an average of 797.3mm of rain during this time. Temperature drops to around 25 degrees during day when there is heavy rainfall and rise up to 32 degrees when the rainfall is scanty. The period between mid-weeks of September to last week of October is usually the post-monsoon time in Delhi, where temperatures start becoming chillier. The climate hovers anywhere between 21 and 29 degrees during this time.

Delhi is geographically situated near the Himalayas. This massive mountain range is the reason for the spine-chilling cold waves the city experiences. From November to January, it is winter time in Delhi, where the temperature drops phenomenally to 12 degrees. It is during this time, that Delhi gets covered by immense fog in the mornings, which makes transport go haywire. By the first week of February, Delhi welcomes the spring season which goes on till first week of April.

During 9th June, 2007, the minimum temperature recorded in Delhi was-2.2 degrees whereas the maximum temperature was 49 degrees. This was the hottest and coldest climates that the city has ever experienced till now.

Seasons

As Delhi is close to the Himalayas and the famous Thar Desert, the extreme temperature levels that it experiences are only natural. Like any other place, Delhi too experiences summer, rainy, autumn, winter and spring.

Summer

This is the season between the first week of April and the last week of June. The month of May is when the city experiences the hottest climate of the year. There have been cases where temperature soars up to 45 degrees. Being in the vicinity of Thar Desert, Delhi experiences dust storms, thunder storms and hot and dry loo winds that increase precipitation levels.

Monsoon

This is the season between the last week of June and mid-week of September. Monsoon arrives in the city when winds in the South Western direction bring moisture content from the Arabian Sea. It is during this season that the humidity is quite high. As the season progresses, the temperature drops significantly, thereby reducing the humidity levels. The climate is quite sultry and difficult during the months of June and July, whereas in August, it cools down considerably. Delhi receives maximum rainfall during the month of August.

Autumn

This is also known as post monsoon season and it lasts between the mid-week of September and the first week of December. Here the temperature slowly starts becoming pleasant as nights become cooler and days become warmer. By the last week of October, the temperature dips considerably with the maximum temperature itself hovering around 20 degrees. This is also the season where the winds that were blowing in the south western direction change their direction to north western.

Winter

This season starts either by the last week of November or the first week of December. The temperature starts getting quite cold because of the north westerly winds blowing from the Himalayan mountain regions. By the month of December, the climate becomes very chilly and the temperature is always in single digits. 0 degree temperature, too is recorded on certain days and on very rare cases, the temperature goes lesser than 0. One can experience frost season too, when the temperatures hover quite near to the 0 degree mark. This season lasts till the first week of February.

Spring

This season, like in the case of all places, is chirpy and bursting full of energy in the capital as well. The temperature goes up from what it was during the winters, but remains pleasant at most times. The nights are cooler and comfortable whereas the days are warm and shiny. This is also a festive and harvest season in the capital and the entire ambience is lit up during this season. Every year, the place experiences some rainfall during the month of February. This season lasts till the first week of April.