Delhi Gripped by Intense Thunderstorm and Heavy Rainfall
New Delhi experienced a dramatic shift in weather late Wednesday evening, as strong winds, thunderstorms, and intense rain swept across the city. This sudden change was triggered by a western disturbance and the formation of convective clouds, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting additional precipitation in the coming days.
Traffic Snarls and Flight Disruptions
The severe weather conditions significantly impacted daily life, causing traffic jams, uprooting trees, and leading to major flight disruptions. According to FlightRadar24, a live flight tracking website, at least 22 flights scheduled to land at Indira Gandhi International Airport were diverted, while over 300 flights faced delays. In response, IMD has issued a yellow alert, warning of continued rain and strong winds on Thursday and Friday.
Wind Speeds and Rainfall Measurements
On Wednesday, influenced by the western disturbance, high moisture levels, and elevated temperatures, convective clouds developed, affecting a large portion of the city and surrounding areas. By evening, wind speeds peaked at 68 kmph in Pragati Maidan, 65 kmph at Pusa, and 52 kmph at Palam. Rainfall data from IMD, recorded between 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM, shows Janakpuri receiving 12 mm, CRPF camps 11.5 mm, and other areas like Safdarjung and Palam getting 5.6 mm and 5.2 mm respectively. The New Delhi Municipal Council reported no tree-fall complaints in its jurisdiction, while Gurgaon also witnessed gusty winds, thunderstorms, and steady rain starting around 6:30 PM.
Temperature Fluctuations and Forecast
Safdarjung, the city's base weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 33.8 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, and a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, also two notches above normal. However, temperatures dropped sharply in the late evening. Between 6:45 PM and 7:15 PM, Palam and Safdarjung saw a 10-degree decrease, Lodhi Road a 9.5-degree drop, and other areas similar declines. IMD predicts a slight rise of one to two degrees in maximum temperature over the next 24 hours, followed by a gradual fall of four to six degrees in the subsequent three days. Maximum temperatures are expected to remain below normal to normal for the next week.
Weather forecasts indicate one or two spells of very light to light rain on Thursday, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong surface winds of 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph from afternoon to night. A similar pattern is likely on Friday, with gusty winds and precipitation in the afternoon or evening. IMD anticipates maximum temperatures of 28-30 degrees Celsius on Thursday and 26-28 degrees on Friday.
Air Quality Concerns
Meanwhile, air quality in Delhi deteriorated to poor levels on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 232, compared to 189 or moderate on Tuesday. The Commission for Air Quality Management, which recently revoked the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage-1 due to earlier improvements, stated it would not reimpose GRAP yet, as the AQI is showing an improving trend.
