Sudden thunderstorm and rain bring relief to delhi after hot day
New Delhi: Delhiites experienced a sultry day, but a sudden change in weather brought respite as very light rain, accompanied by a
, lightning, and a dust storm, swept across the city.
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It was characterised by winds gusting up to 56 kmph, causing temperatures to plummet by almost eight degrees Celsius at most places in Delhi.
This led to the diversion of the Air India Goa-Delhi flight to Jaipur and delayed several flights.
This was the sixth major thunderstorm activity recorded in the city in May this year. The Met department said there is a possibility of very light to light rain along with thunderstorms and gusty winds from Sunday to Wednesday.However, it has not issued any colour-coded warning for the next few days.
The maximum temperature on Saturday rose to 39.7 degrees Celsius, which is near normal for this time of the year. After the thunderstorm activity in Delhi, the mercury at Safdarjung dipped by six degrees. At Pitampura, Delhi University, Ayanagar in south-west Delhi, and Najafgarh, the temperature dropped by eight degrees Celsius in just one-and-a-half hours.
Though the speed of winds during the thunderstorm was recorded at 40 kmph at Safdarjung, it touched 56 kmph at Palam, 48 kmph at Pragati Maidan, 46 kmph at Najafgarh, 43 kmph at Pitampura, and 37 kmph at Lodhi Road.
Thunderstorm activity was accompanied by very light rain or drizzle, as only 'trace' rainfall was recorded at Lodhi Road, Ridge, and Ayanagar from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
According to FlightRadar24, a live flight tracking website, over 300 flights were delayed at IGI Airport on Saturday.
IMD scientist Krishna Kumar Mishra said, "Delhi and adjoining areas recorded rain, thunderstorm, and dust storm on Saturday, mainly due to cyclonic circulation over north Pakistan, the presence of a trough extending at lower levels, winds from the Arabian Sea, and the weakening of depression over east Bengal," he said.
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Mishra added that the western disturbance would influence the region till June 2, but its impact would be more in the Himalayan region.
The minimum temperature on Saturday stood at 25.8 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. The relative humidity oscillated between 40% and 87%.
Delhi's air quality index, meanwhile, deteriorated from 167 in the 'moderate' category on Friday to 241 in the 'poor' range on Saturday. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the air quality is likely to stay in the 'moderate' category on Sunday and Monday.
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