Contents

1 Overview of Seasonal Distribution

2 Seasons

2.1 Summer

2.2 Monsoon

2.3 Autumn

2.4 Winter

2.5 Spring

3 Effect of climate on structures of shelter at

delhi.

4 Extreme Temperatures

INTRODUCTION
Expats beware because the temperature in the summer
months can be unbelievably hot with temperatures soaring as
high as 113F (45C), often accompanied by dry desert winds
not a good combination in anyones books. But the cooler
months of October to March can be pleasant and mild with
warm sunny days and little rainfall, most of which falls
between July and September.

Climate chart

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Year

24.2
36.2 39.6 39.3 35.1
Average
21.1
30.0
33.3 33.9 32.9 28.3 23.0
high C
(75.6
(97.2 (103. (102. (95.2
(70)
(86)
(91.9) (93) (91.2) (82.9) (73.4)
(F)
)
)
3)
7)
)

31.4
(88.5)

24.4
Average 7.3 10.1 15.4 21.5 25.9 28.3 26.6
25.9
19.5 12.8
8.2
low C (45.1 (50.2 (59.7 (70.7 (78.6 (82.9 (79.9
(75.9
(78.6)
(67.1) (55) (46.8)
(F)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

18.8
(65.8)

5.0
7.8
Rainfall 20.3 15.0 15.8
6.7
17.5 54.9 231.5 258.7 127.8 36.3
mm
(0.79 (0.59 (0.62 (0.26 (0.68 (2.16 (9.11 (10.18 (5.03 (1.42 (0.19 (0.30
(inches)
9)
1)
2)
4)
9)
1)
4)
5)
1)
9)
7)
7)

797.3
(31.389)

Month

Avg.
rainy
days

1.7

1.3

1.2

0.9

1.4

3.6

10.0

11.3

5.4

1.6

0.1

0.6

Mean
monthly 213.9 217.5 238.7 261.0 263.5 198.0 167.4 176.7 219.0 269.7 246.0 217.0
sunshine
hours

39.1

2,688.4

Overview of Seasonal Distribution

Summer:

April, May, June; Hot to very hot; Very

low to normal humidity (Dry weather); Low to Good
precipitation
Monsoon (Rainy): July, August, September; Hot,
Pleasant during rains; High to very high humidity;
Heavy precipitation
Autumn: October, November; Warm days, Cool
nights, Pleasant; Very low to low humidity; Very
low precipitation
Winter: December, January; Cool to Cold; Low
humidity; Low precipitation
Spring: February, March; Warm days, Cool nights,
Pleasant; Very low to low humidity; Good
precipitation

Seasons

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.
Broadly speaking, Delhi has long and scorching summerssub-divided into summer and monsoon seasons, short and
cold winters, and two bouts of pleasant transition seasons.
Two important occurrences influencing Delhi's climate are
Western Disturbance and South-West Winds.

Summer

Summer begins in early April and continues till the end of June, with the heat
peaking in May. It is characterized by extreme heat due to overhead sun, low
humidity, very hot winds and at times thunderstorms. Delhi's proximity to the Thar
Desert results in hot, dry continental winds, called loo, blowing 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 and sometimes very dry during day. May is
Delhi's hottest month during which temperatures may reach 45C or higher. This
month is characterized by frequent thunderstorms. Dust storms are an infrequent
feature of Delhi's summer. 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 blooming Amaltas and Gulmohar
trees, which look spectacular when in full bloom during peak summer in May.

Monsoon

Monsoon winds arrive in Delhi by either the end of June or the first
week of July. 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 40C as humidity suddenly
soars. July is marked by high heat and relatively less precipitation.
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. By
September, the amount and frequency of precipitation drops, though
humidity remains high. Towards the end of September, moisture

Autumn

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 30C by late October and
there is a gradual fall in average temperature.
Minimum temperature drops below 20C. During
Autumn, the wind direction begins changing from
South-Westerly to North-Westerly. This season ends
by early December.

Winter

Winter arrives in Delhi in 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 Plains 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 0C, though rarely entering the negative scale.
Maximum temperatures, too may drop down into single digits and always stay under 20C. When the
minimum temperature ventures very close to the 0C mark, Delhi witnesses frost.[18] Snow, as of now,
is a practical impossibility for Delhi (and the rest of Northern Plains) due to very dry nature of its winter
which is caused because of the Siberian Anticyclone. 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, very cold north-westerly winds from upper reaches of Himalayas blowing across the city
makes the days feel colder, despite any sunshine and the nights biting cold. Post mid-January, average
temperatures begin to rise very gradually, though the rise is almost contained by the cold northwestern winds which result due to very heavy snowfall that occurs in the Himalayas during this part of
the month. It may rain in the fag end of January and the precipitation is usually accompanied by hail,
resulting in slight increase in minimum temperatures due to cloud cover. Maximum temperatures again
cross 20C and days become pleasant. By mid-February or somewhat beyond, minimum temperature
crosses the 10C mark and days start getting warmer gradually, marking the end of winter. Delhi can
sometimes have prolonged season of chill, extending into March. Like it had last happened in 2012,

Spring

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. It is
pleasant all time and there is brilliant sunshine during the day.
February rains 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. Spring
ends by the latter half of March and the day temperatures well
exceed 30C by then, marking the onset of the next summer!

Effect of climate on
structuctures of
shelter at delhi

Roofs at delhi are generally straight and flat because

ration of summer is greater than any other climate.

Walls in delhi are heat reflecting

Generally the size of the windows in delhi was little

bit small by which the sufficient amount of light may
enters through it.

Extreme Temperatures

Temperature records for Delhi exist for a period

of a little over 100 years. The lowest ever
temperature reading during this period is
-2.2C, recorded on January 11, 1967 at Met
Delhi Palam. And, the highest ever temperature
reading during the same period is 48.4C, again
recorded at Met Delhi Palam.