A dust storm followed by heavy rainfall swept through Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) late on Thursday, disrupting flights and bringing relief from rising temperatures. The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert, warning of thunderstorms and gusty winds until Saturday. Several parts of the capital reported waterlogging. Many trees were also uprooted.
Strong winds, a sudden dust storm and heavy rain lashed Delhi and adjoining areas in the NCR on Thursday night, leading to significant disruptions in flight operations and bringing a much-needed dip in temperatures.
According to data from FlightRadar, Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport witnessed an average delay of 46 minutes for arrivals and 54 minutes for departures due to the inclement weather. The Delhi International Airport Limited stated that ground staff were “making all efforts to ensure a seamless experience”, while several carriers advised fliers to check flight schedules prior to arrival at the airport.
“Some of our flights to and from Delhi are being delayed or diverted, which is likely to impact our overall flight schedule. We are doing our best to minimise disruptions,” Air India posted on X.
Heavy showers led to waterlogging across the city with roads inundated in Dwarka, Khanpur, South Extension Ring Road, Minto Road, Lajpat Nagar and Moti Bagh. A truck was seen stranded at the Minto Bridge underpass, one of the city’s usual trouble spots, during monsoon showers.
In several areas, strong winds uprooted trees and brought down branches. The extent of damage to public and private property is yet to be ascertained. Authorities urged residents to remain indoors and assess conditions before venturing out.
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 19.8° C on Friday. The Meteorological Department had predicted heavy rain, thunderstorms and high-velocity winds in the range of 70–80 km per hour across Delhi throughout the day.
Neighbouring states, including parts of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh, also experienced moderate rainfall, the IMD said.
The weather office has issued a yellow alert for Delhi till Saturday, cautioning about more thunderstorms, heavy rainfall and gusty winds. The yellow alert signifies potentially hazardous weather that may impact day-to-day activities.
On Wednesday, the national capital had recorded a maximum temperature of 38.1°C, just under a degree below the seasonal average. This unseasonal weather offers a brief respite as the Met Department had earlier forecast above-normal temperatures across much of the country for May with only occasional thunderstorms providing some relief.
The Met Department said rainfall in North India during the month is likely to be above normal, more than 109 per cent of the long-period average of 64.1 mm. The department expects that frequent and intense thunderstorms would prevent a repeat of the high temperatures observed in May last year.
The Met Department added that rainfall in north India during the month is likely to be above normal—more than 109 per cent of the long-period average of 64.1 mm. The department expects frequent and intense thunderstorms to keep extreme heat at bay, preventing a repeat of the high temperatures observed in May 2024.
Follow us
