After enduring days of extreme heatwave conditions, residents of Delhi finally received relief on Thursday as heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong gusty winds swept across several parts of the national capital. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the city, warning people to remain cautious over the next few hours due to severe weather activity.
According to the IMD, moderate to intense thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, duststorms and isolated hailstorms are likely to affect many areas of Delhi. Wind speeds during the storm activity may reach up to 80 kilometres per hour, raising concerns over possible disruptions in traffic and power supply.
The weather department said the current spell of rain and thunderstorm activity is expected to continue until May 31, bringing much-needed respite from the scorching temperatures that had gripped the city over the past several days.
Delhi had witnessed severe heatwave conditions this week, with temperatures crossing the 45 degrees Celsius mark at several weather stations. However, the sudden change in weather brought down daytime temperatures significantly on Thursday. IMD data showed that maximum temperatures across the capital dropped by nearly 3 to 5 degrees Celsius compared to the previous day.
The department also noted that Delhi recorded below-normal maximum temperatures at most major weather stations on Thursday due to the widespread cloud cover and rainfall activity.
Weather experts said the thunderstorm activity first developed over northern Rajasthan before gradually moving towards Delhi and adjoining regions. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Climate and Meteorology at Skymet Weather, said the intensity of the storms is likely to increase further on Friday.
He added that the ongoing pre-monsoon rainfall spell is expected to be stronger than the showers experienced in Delhi earlier this month and in April, resulting in widespread rainfall across the city over the next two days.
Palawat explained that the weather conditions have been triggered by multiple atmospheric systems working together. These include a western disturbance active over the Himalayan region, an induced cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan and nearby areas, along with moisture-laden winds arriving from the Bay of Bengal.
The increased moisture levels combined with unstable atmospheric conditions have created a favourable environment for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall over northwestern India, including Delhi-NCR.
The IMD has advised residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor movement during thunderstorm activity and stay away from trees, electric poles and weak structures due to the possibility of strong winds and lightning strikes.
The sudden weather shift has brought considerable relief to Delhiites who had been struggling with intense heat and uncomfortable conditions for nearly a week.
