IMD forecasts mainly clear skies from Tuesday through Saturday as temperatures gradually rise after a wet and unusually cool weekend
Delhi is expected to move back towards warmer weather this week after a brief spell of rain and relatively cool conditions over the weekend. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast partly cloudy conditions and no rainfall for the national capital on Monday, followed by mainly clear skies from Tuesday through Saturday.
The weather outlook marks a shift from the cooler conditions experienced after recent showers. Temperatures are expected to rise gradually during the week, although the capital is unlikely to see a sharp return to peak summer-like heat.
Temperature expected to climb through the week
The IMD forecast puts Monday's maximum temperature in the range of 31-33 degrees Celsius, with the minimum expected at around 20-22 degrees Celsius.
From Tuesday, the maximum temperature is forecast to move towards 32-34 degrees Celsius, before rising further to around 33-35 degrees Celsius from Wednesday onwards.
Minimum temperatures are also expected to edge higher, reaching approximately 22-24 degrees Celsius on Tuesday and Wednesday and 23-25 degrees Celsius from Thursday.
The forecast indicates a gradual warming trend rather than an abrupt change in conditions.
Rain break follows a wet weekend
The warmer outlook comes after parts of Delhi received light rainfall on Saturday, while Sunday remained relatively cool.
The recent showers provided temporary relief from warmer and more humid conditions. With rainfall activity expected to remain limited over the capital in the coming days, temperatures are now likely to recover gradually.
The IMD's Delhi-NCR weather service is also currently showing relatively calm conditions in the capital, consistent with the transition towards a drier period.
Monsoon has already withdrawn from Delhi
The latest weather pattern comes after the southwest monsoon withdrew from Delhi on September 23, two days ahead of its normal withdrawal date of September 25, according to the report.
Despite the early withdrawal, Delhi received substantial rainfall during the June-September monsoon season.
The Safdarjung observatory recorded 728.6 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 23, compared with the normal 629.7 mm for the corresponding period. That represents an excess of approximately 16 per cent, although it remains within the IMD's broader "normal" rainfall category.
No major weather warning for Delhi
The current forecast does not indicate any major weather warning for the national capital.
The absence of significant rain or storm activity should provide relatively stable conditions for commuters, businesses and outdoor activities through much of the week.
However, weather conditions can change rapidly during the post-monsoon transition, and residents should continue to follow fresh IMD updates, particularly if localised thunderstorms or rain develop.
Rain continues in other parts of India
While Delhi is expected to remain mostly dry, several other parts of the country could continue to receive significant rainfall.
The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall at isolated locations over Uttarakhand, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and south interior Karnataka. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds of around 40-50 kmph are also expected at isolated places across parts of the Northeast, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
In northwest India, rainfall is expected to remain more active over Uttarakhand, while isolated to scattered rain and thunderstorms could occur in other areas.
This regional contrast highlights the uneven nature of the monsoon withdrawal phase, with some parts of India transitioning to drier conditions while others continue to experience rain-bearing weather systems.
Weather system developing over the Bay of Bengal
Another weather system is also being monitored over the eastern part of the country.
According to the forecast cited in the report, a system over the north Andaman Sea and adjoining Myanmar coast had become a well-marked low-pressure area and was expected to intensify into a depression.
The system was forecast to move north-northwestwards along and off the Myanmar-Bangladesh coasts towards the northeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Bangladesh.
The development could influence rainfall patterns across parts of eastern and northeastern India, although its direct impact on Delhi is expected to remain limited under the current forecast.
Fishermen advised to exercise caution
The developing system has also prompted a marine safety advisory.
Fishermen were advised not to venture into affected areas of the Andaman Sea, east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal and along and off the Myanmar coast until the advisory period ends.
Such systems are closely monitored during the monsoon withdrawal period because changes in their intensity and movement can affect rainfall and wind conditions across neighbouring regions.
What Delhi residents can expect this week
For Delhi residents, the immediate outlook is one of drier skies and gradually warmer temperatures.
The cooler conditions experienced over the weekend are expected to ease, with daytime temperatures returning to the low-to-mid 30s. Nights are also expected to become somewhat warmer as minimum temperatures move into the 22-25 degree range.
The combination of lower rainfall chances and increasing temperatures could also bring changes in humidity and air quality. As the post-monsoon period progresses, air-quality conditions will become increasingly important to monitor, particularly as wind speeds and atmospheric dispersion influence pollution levels.
Market Outlook
Weather conditions in Delhi and across northern India can have indirect implications for several economic activities, including transportation, construction, retail, agriculture-linked supply chains and electricity demand.
The shift towards drier and warmer conditions in Delhi is unlikely to create a major disruption to economic activity under the current forecast. However, rainfall in other regions remains important for agricultural operations, water availability and commodity supply chains.
For markets, investors will continue to monitor the progress of monsoon withdrawal, regional rainfall distribution, temperature trends and the development of weather systems over the Bay of Bengal. Any significant deviation from current forecasts could influence agricultural commodities, power demand and logistics conditions.
For Delhi, the near-term picture remains relatively straightforward: rain is not expected to be a major factor this week, while temperatures are likely to gradually move higher from Tuesday onwards.