Delhi weather today: IMD warns of thunderstorms, rain after days of extreme heat
Delhi-NCR may finally see relief from the ongoing heatwave as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms, gusty winds and light rainfall across the region. The latest Delhi weather update comes after temperatures in several parts of the national capital hovered between 45 and 46 degrees Celsius over the past few days.
According to the IMD forecast, Delhi-NCR is likely to witness thunderstorms accompanied by light to moderate rain on May 28, with wind speeds expected to reach 50 kmph. Reports also indicate the possibility of thundersqualls and gusty winds of 50-60 kmph during the afternoon and evening hours.
The weather department said residents should remain alert and stay updated on changing weather conditions as similar alerts have been issued for nearby states as well. The expected rainfall and thunderstorms could temporarily disrupt normal life in parts of the city.
The latest IMD bulletin said the Safdarjung weather station recorded a maximum temperature of 44.3 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature settled around 26 degrees Celsius. Although temperatures are expected to remain high in the immediate term, the department has predicted a gradual fall of 5 to 7 degrees Celsius after May 29, bringing significant relief from the scorching heatwave conditions.
The change in weather is being linked to thunderstorm activity developing over north India. The IMD said thunderstorms and rain are likely to affect several parts of Delhi over the next few days, leading to a drop in daytime temperatures.
Officials have advised people to remain cautious during periods of strong winds and rain, especially commuters and those travelling during peak thunderstorm hours.
Latest update on the monsoon
Meanwhile, the IMD has also flagged a delay in the onset of the southwest monsoon. The monsoon is now expected to reach Kerala between May 28 and June 3, while its arrival in Delhi is projected around June 27.
The delayed monsoon timeline could influence weather patterns across north India in the coming weeks even as residents wait for sustained relief from the summer heat.
Delhi’s air quality also remained a concern amid the extreme weather. Several monitoring stations recorded air quality in the ‘poor’ category on Wednesday. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 284, while Rohini stood at 251 and Wazirpur at 263. Other areas including Pusa, Narela and IGI Airport also recorded elevated pollution levels.
With IANS inputs