Weather experts weigh in on why spring gave Delhi a miss
NEW DELHI: Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 31.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday, Mumbai, 34.6 degrees, and Kolkata, 35.8 degrees as many parts of India experienced the hottest spring they have in years as the absence of western disturbances, cyclonic storms originating in the Mediterranean more than offset the effect of La Niña, which many experts expected to prolong the winter in the northern plains.
There might be a respite for a few days, from Sunday to the middle of next week, but it isn’t expected to be much of one, and then, forecasters say, it will heat up even more.
Since Monday (till Saturday), maximum temperatures in Delhi have read: 28.9; 31.5; 32.5; 33.2; 33; and 31.7 degrees C.
The situation is similar in most cities in the northern plains. Mumbai’s maximum temperature over the same period has ranged between 33.9 and 36.1 degrees C. These are between 5 and 7 degrees higher than normal. How unique is this? According to India Meteorological Department’s data, Delhi’s maximum temperature didn’t touch 30 degree C in 2020, 2019, 2015, 2014 and 2013 in February. There were 4 days with 30 degree C + maximum temperature in 2018; three days in 2017; and five days in 2016.
“Normally, six western disturbances impact the northern plains in January and February and about four to five in March. The north westerly winds bring pleasant spring time weather as we head to summer. That hasn’t happened this year. Only one WD each impacted the NW plains in January and February each. Rest of the WDs impacted only the upper reaches of the Western Himalayas. Warm south-westerly winds have been blowing,” said Kuldeep Srivastava, head, regional weather forecasting centre, IMD.
There is likely to be a marginal fall in maximum temperatures starting Sunday for a brief period which will not be as pleasant as spring, he said, adding: “Today the wind direction switched for a bit to north westerly (from the direction of Western Himalayas which normally brings cooler air).” The change may result in a 2-3 degree C drop in maximum temperatures over the plains till March 3. “But maximum temperatures are already 5 to 6 degree C above normal, so a 2-3 degree C drop won’t bring back spring. From March 3, maximums will rise again to 34 to 35 degree C,” Srivastava said.
According to an IMD statement on February 24, higher temperatures over northwestern plains can be attributed to absence of any weather system and prevalence of southwesterly surface winds, causing advection of heat from west Rajasthan towards the region.
“The rise in maximum temperatures over northwest India is mainly due to south-westerly winds and the lack of weather systems which can bring rain. There has been snowfall and rain in the Himalayas on Friday so now temperature will fall temporarily but climatologically temperatures will continue to rise. In IMD’s terminology there is no spring. We move over to the pre-monsoon season from winter,” said M Mohapatra, director general, IMD. “Temperature starts rising peaking first in Odisha, Maharashtra, etc, in March and then in northwest India. So, we are also expecting temperatures to rise in Maharashtra from next week,” he added.
LUCKNOW: The BCCI on Saturday dropped veteran pacer Shikha Pandey from Indian women’s squad for the upcoming home series between hosts India and South Africa, starting March 7 here. The newly appointed selection committee led by Neetu David has finalised the squads.
Pandey got the axe despite taking eight wickets in the last 10 matches, including a threewicket haul against Australia in the World Cup in Sydney. However, Pandey couldn’t take even a single wicket at the Women’s T20 Challenge in UAE last year while playing for Velocity. Seasoned Veda Krishnamurthy and Ekta Bisht along with Anuja Patil and Taniya Bhatia too were ignored for the series
Right-arm pacer C Pratyusha, as well as Yastika Bhatia, Ayushi Soni, Swetha Verma, Monica Patel, and Simran Dil Bahadur, have earned their maiden callups to the national side, which is due to play five ODIs and three T20Is, at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow.
Expectedly, experienced Mithali Raj would lead the ODI side, while Harmanpreet Kaur has been given charge of the T20I team.
The next month’s series comes in the run-up to the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in March-April (next year) and also the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in South Africa in February 2023.
“About a year from now, India play the World Cup in New Zealand. We have plenty of young faces to try on the home turf,” said a team official on condition of anonymity on Saturday. “We are hoping for a good run for the
Indian women’s team in the series. They haven’t played an international match since March last year,” she added.
The eight-match series, the second one to be played at one ground and at one venue, would mark the return of women’s cricket to India after a long gap due to Covid-19. The Indian women’s cricket team last played cricket during the Women’s T20 Challenge in November 2020.
The two sides would play a practice match on Thursday at the B Ground after having their first official training session on Wednesday. For now, the teams, including South Africa, which landed in the state capital on Saturday evening, have been put in quarantine.
The series will begin with ODIs on March 7, followed by T20Is starting on March 20. The board is yet to decide on the entry of fans at the stadium as well as tickets, if any. “It’s yet to be finalized, as we are waiting for directives from the board in this regard,” Ekana Sportz City’s media manager Gaurav said.
TEAMS
India team ODI series:
Raj (captain), Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Punam Raut, Priya Punia, Yastika Bhatia, Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), D Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Sushma Verma (wicketkeeper), Swetha Verma (wicketkeeper), Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Jhulan Goswami, Mansi Joshi, Poonam Yadav, C Prathyusha, Monica Patel.
India team ODI series: T20I series: Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Smriti Mandhana (vicecaptain), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol, Sushma Verma (wicketkeeper), Nuzhat Parveen (wicketkeeper), Ayushi Soni, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav, Mansi Joshi, Monica Patel, C Prathyusha and Simran Dil Bahadur.
South Africa: Aneeke Elizabeth, Tazmin, Trisha, Nadine, Tshegofatso, Lara, Sinalo, Marizanee, Ayabonga, Kgosimang Hilton, Lizelle, Sune Elbie, Nonkululeko, Sedibu Joseph, Pokie Abram, Tumi Sphindile, Shabnim, Nondumiso Precious, Molebatsi Phelane, Mignon, Zane, Laura, Koketso Thebe, Faye and Zahid.