The weather in Delhi and its surrounding areas took an unexpected turn. Just hours after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning, the region experienced a substantial weather shift late Saturday night. The night saw torrential rains accompanied by gusty winds and thunder, providing relief from the sweltering heat but also leading to flooded streets in several areas, making life a bit challenging for residents. Reports of fallen trees have also surfaced from various localities.
The forecast highlighted potential heavy rainfall, gale-force winds of 60 to 80 km/h, and thunderstorms affecting districts across Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. A red alert was issued specifically for Delhi-NCR, and the region did not disappoint as it embraced the heavy showers within hours.
Flooding in Several Areas, Car Submerged at Minto Bridge
With the heavy rain, many parts of the capital faced significant waterlogging. Areas like Minto Road, Humayun Road, and Shastri Bhavan were inundated, causing traffic disruptions. Minto Bridge, notorious for flooding during heavy rains, saw a car partially submerged in the water.
Impact on Air Travel
The inclement weather impacted air travel too. Indigo tweeted updates about flight disruptions due to adverse weather conditions and congestion in Delhi airspace, advising passengers to verify flight status before heading to the airport.
Source: aajtak
Indigo issued another update an hour later indicating gradual improvement in weather but warned that air traffic congestion persisted, possibly affecting flights.
Warnings from SpiceJet and Air India
SpiceJet cautioned that departures and arrivals might be affected due to the bad weather, advising passengers to stay updated on their flight status. Meanwhile, Air India reported the potential for similar disturbances affecting flights in Delhi, Amritsar, and Chandigarh due to thunderstorms and strong winds on Sunday evening and night.
Source: aajtak
Weather Changes Begin Late Night
Clouds started gathering over the capital by Saturday evening causing a drop in temperature. By around 2 a.m., strong winds began to blow across different parts of the city, followed by thunder and rain. Areas such as South, West, Outer Delhi, and Noida were hit by intense rain, while light showers and gusts were reported in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad.
Heat Relief is Temporary
According to the Meteorological Department, while the rain brings some respite from the heat, this relief won’t last long. Temperatures are expected to gradually rise between May 22 and May 28, potentially reaching 40°C on May 26 and 28. Nighttime temperatures are also predicted to rise from 21°C on May 22 to 29°C by the week's end.
IMD's Earlier Warning
On Saturday, the Indian Meteorological Department clearly stated that strong winds and rain could affect many parts of North India within the next few hours. This weather phenomenon is attributed to a western disturbance moving from Rajasthan through Delhi and then towards Uttar Pradesh. IMD issued a red alert for rain and strong winds across Delhi, NCR (Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad), Haryana, and many districts in Rajasthan.
