After weeks of soaring temperatures, residents in the Delhi-NCR region woke up to thunderstorms and heavy showers on Monday morning. heavy rain and thunderstorm in Delhi and its adjoining areas early this morning led to massive traffic jams and affected flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The weather department officials have predicted damage to vulnerable structures. Officials expect traffic disruption in Delhi-NCR; several key roads have already been blocked by uprooted trees.
Thundershower with moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with speed of 60-90 Km/h would continue to occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and NCR ( Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Gurugram,
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 23, 2022
“Rain along with gusty winds will continue” for the next couple of hours, the weather department said in a tweet. Extreme wind gusts going up to a ravaging speed of 90 Kmph is also expected. Amid strong winds and rain, several reports of uprooted trees blocking roads in parts of Delhi have also surfaced. Meanwhile, the Delhi Airport has also warned the flyers to keep a check on the status of the flight as the air traffic has been severely affected owing to bad weather conditions. India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an ‘orange alert’. The maximum temperature dipped to 39.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday, a degree below the normal temperature in the Safdarjung city’s base station.
The relative humidity oscillated between 77% and 29%. Overnight rain was received by a few parts of Delhi as 0.8mm rainfall was recorded till 8.30 am on a Sunday morning at Safdarjung. IMD has predicted light rain accompanied by squalls at the speed of 50-60 kmph on Monday under the disturbance of western disturbance. However, as winds settled down and showers turned into a drizzle, people were glad to get some respite amid extreme heat.
Due to bad weather, flight operations at @DelhiAirport are affected. Passengers are requested to get in touch with the airline concerned for updated flight information. #BadWeather #Rain
— Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) May 23, 2022
The Met department also said that dust storms and thunderstorms with light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with a speed of 50-80 km/h are “very likely” to continue over Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas for the next few hours.
The Met department also said that dust storms and thunderstorms with light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with a speed of 50-80 km/h are “very likely” to continue over Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas for the next few hours. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the surface temperature in the national capital fell 11 degrees, from 29 degrees Celsius to 18 degrees Celsius on Monday in the period between 5.40 am to 7 am due to the thunderstorm. The maximum temperature in Delhi on Monday is likely to be 39 degrees Celsius. A thunderstorm is also expected on Tuesday. The maximum temperature could remain below 40 degrees till May 26, and is likely to rise to 41 degrees Celsius by May 28.
Barring a few cities of Central UP and Bundelkhand, rain may continue in all other districts of the state today. The Meteorological Department has also predicted more rain on May 24 and 26. The Meteorological Department has issued an orange alert for these cities. These cities are – Bahraich, Siddharth Nagar, Maharajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Gorakhpur, Deoria, Ballia, Azamgarh, Kaushambi, Sitapur, Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Bareilly, Badaun, Shahjahanpur, Farrukhabad, Hathras, Mainpuri, Firozabad, Agra, Mathura, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Noida, Sambhal, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, and Banda. That is, the residents of these cities have been advised to be alert during thunderstorms and rains.
In an earlier tweet, the IMD said vulnerable structures and kutcha houses could suffer damages due to the thunderstorm, and that traffic disruptions are likely.
The weather department officials have predicted damage to vulnerable structures and kutcha houses/walls and huts. Officials expect traffic disruption in Delhi-NCR; several key roads have already been blocked by uprooted trees. The traffic disruption is expected to be accompanied by reduced visibility, the officials tweeted. “Damage to plantations, horticulture and standing crops,” is also expected today.
The officials of the weather departments have shared the suggested list of actions to ensure safety:
- Stay indoors, close windows & doors, and avoid travel if possible.
- Take safe shelters; do not take shelter under trees.
- Do not lie on concrete floors and do not lean against concrete walls.
- Unplug electrical/ electronic appliances.
- Immediately get out of water bodies.
- Keep away from all the objects that conduct electricity.
- Follow any traffic advisories that are issued in this regard.
