Delhi recorded its coolest September morning in 18 years on Tuesday, with the minimum temperature falling to 21°C, around 2.3 degrees below normal. According to the India Meteorological Department, it was the lowest minimum temperature recorded in the capital during September since 2008. The unusual drop came after recent rainfall across Delhi-NCR as the region moves from the monsoon season towards drier post-monsoon conditions.
The cooler conditions followed a wet spell that affected several parts of north India. The IMD recorded rainfall at many places across Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi in the 24 hours ending at 5:30 am on Tuesday. Rain, increased moisture and cloud cover helped reduce nighttime temperatures, while the lingering weather system also limited daytime heating across the region.
Tuesday's reading came just days after Delhi recorded another unusually cool September night. The capital had registered a minimum temperature of 21°C on September 27, its second-lowest September reading in 25 years and the lowest since 2001. The repeated temperature drops have drawn attention to the possibility of an early transition towards cooler weather, although the current conditions do not by themselves indicate an early winter.
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The morning was also marked by haze across the city. Recent rainfall and moisture in the lower atmosphere, combined with suspended particles near the surface, can reduce visibility and create a hazy appearance, particularly during the early hours. However, the IMD has not attributed Tuesday's haze to a specific pollution episode or identified a single cause for the conditions.
Although the southwest monsoon has officially withdrawn from Delhi, other weather systems continue to influence the region. The IMD has reported a western disturbance as a cyclonic circulation over south Rajasthan, along with upper-air circulations over Uttar Pradesh. These systems have contributed to the recent rainfall and cloud cover. The temperature drop should also not be directly attributed to developing El Nino conditions, as the immediate weather pattern is linked primarily to the recent rain-bearing systems and reduced heating.
The weather is expected to turn drier after Tuesday. The IMD has forecast isolated to scattered rain, thunderstorms and lightning over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on September 29, but expects the rainfall to diminish quickly. From September 30 through October 5, the forecast indicates predominantly dry conditions, signalling a shift towards the post-monsoon weather pattern even as Delhi begins the period with an unusually cool September morning.
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