Delhi receives light rain and thunderstorms; Relief from scorching heat

New Delhi: Delhiites woke up to rain and thunderstorms this morning, which has brought much-needed relief from the sweltering heat that had gripped the national capital and adjoining regions over the past few days.

The city also experienced gusty winds reaching speeds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour which further brought down the mercury. As a result of western disturbances, dark clouds hovered over the region and storms and rain began in the wee hours.

The maximum and minimum temperatures for today are likely to hover around 38 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department had already warned about this shift.

A yellow alert was issued for Delhi and nearby areas, while some regions like Noida and Ghaziabad were placed under a higher orange alert due to the possibility of stronger weather activity.

Experts say this sudden change is linked to a weather system developing over parts of northwestern India and nearby regions. As it moves forward, it is pulling in moisture and creating conditions for rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds.

These types of weather changes are common before the monsoon season and are often called pre-monsoon activity.

Experts said the national capital should also brace for dust storms in the coming days, attributing the changing conditions to a cyclonic circulation prevailing over central Pakistan and adjoining egions of Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab.

The system, according to experts, is likely to transport dust from the desert regions of Rajasthan towards Delhi. The changing weather pattern is expected to bring short-term relief from the heat but may also lead to sudden changes in wind conditions and air quality across the city.