Delhi braces for hail amid tubulent thunderstorm and rain; IMD issues Red alert
Delhi experienced a sudden winter storm with heavy rain, fierce thunderstorms, and gusty winds, prompting an IMD Red Alert across the NCR.
New Delhi: Delhi residents woke up to a dramatic shift in weather this Tuesday as heavy rain, fierce thunderstorms, and gusty winds swept across the National Capital Region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings, placing several areas on high alert as the city faces a sudden, intense spellof winter turbulence.
IMD issues a red alert
At 11:10 AM, the weather office sounded a Red Alert for Northwest, West, Southwest, and Outer North Delhi, as well as pockets of Central Delhi. Unlike a standard forecast, a Red Alert is a call for immediate action from both authorities and residents to mitigate the risks of severe weather.
Meanwhile, Northeast and East Delhi, along with Shahdara and parts of the South and North districts, remain under an Orange Alert, IMD advising citizens to stay prepared for adverse conditions.
The rainfall tally
The rain didn’t fall uniformly across the city, but the impact was felt everywhere. During the three-hour window between 8:30 AM and 11:30 AM, the official figures painted a wet picture.
Palam witnessed maximum with 3.4 mm rain, Ridge, 3.0 mm, Pitampura, 2.0 mm, Janakpuri, 1.5 mm, Mayur Vihar, 1.0 mm, and Ayanagar, 0.1 mm.
While Safdarjung and Lodi Road recorded only a trace of moisture, specific hotspots like Narela, Bawana, Alipur, Kanjhawala, Rohini, Mundaka, and Jafarpur witnessed heavy localised thunderstorms.
IMD warns of winds and ice
The IMD has warned that the "bad weather" will persist for the next few hours. The forecast includes gusty winds with speeds reaching 40 to 50 kmph. The weather department also predicted frequent thunderstorms accompanied by light to moderate rain. The IMD issued a specific warning for hail, threatening to coat streets in ice.
The mercury dips
The storm has brought a significant chill to the air. After a minimum temperature of 8°C this morning, the heavy cloud cover and rain are expected to keep the maximum temperature capped at a cool 19 degrees Celsius.
This intense wet spell is the most significant since January 23rd, which saw the highest January rainfall in two years. Much like that previous event, today’s storm is expected to provide a temporary, much-needed wash-out of the city's lingering pollution levels, even as it disrupts the daily commute.