Residents of Delhi-NCR may be in for another spell of turbulent weather, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert for Thursday. The weather agency has forecast thunderstorms, lightning, rainfall and strong winds across the national capital, including Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad, warning that conditions could remain unstable through June 11 and 12.
The advisory comes just days after powerful winds swept across parts of Delhi, causing sudden weather changes and bringing brief relief from the scorching heat.
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Orange Alert for Delhi-NCR
According to the IMD, Delhi is likely to witness partly cloudy skies along with light to heavy rainfall, thunderstorm activity and lightning, especially during the evening and night hours. The weather department has also warned of strong surface winds ranging between 50 and 60 kmph, with gusts that could touch 70 kmph on Thursday.
Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad are also likely to experience partly cloudy skies with one or two spells of rain and thunderstorms on June 11, today. The alert follows Tuesday evening's severe weather event, when wind speeds reportedly reached 111 kmph in some parts of the city.
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Heat to Continue Despite Rain Chances
While rain is expected to bring some respite, Delhiites may not experience significant relief from discomfort. High humidity levels are likely to keep conditions hot and sticky.
On Wednesday, the city's "feels-like" temperature touched a sweltering 48.2 degrees Celsius, even though the actual temperature at noon stood at 41.4 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has forecast maximum temperatures between 40 and 42 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while minimum temperatures are expected to remain between 27 and 29 degrees Celsius.
There is, however, some good news. The weather department expects temperatures to drop further by Friday, when the maximum temperature could fall to around 34-35 degrees Celsius.
Dust Storms and Lightning Possible
Meteorologists have said atmospheric conditions remain favourable for unstable weather throughout the day. Residents may experience isolated dust storms, lightning strikes and thunderstorms in different parts of Delhi. The IMD has advised people to remain cautious during periods of intense weather activity, particularly when strong winds and lightning occur.
Western Disturbance Behind the Weather Shift
The current spell of changing weather is being influenced by an active western disturbance, according to the IMD.
The department said, “The western disturbance persists,” and expects no major change in maximum temperatures during the next 24 hours. After that, temperatures may drop by six to seven degrees until Friday before gradually rising again.
Minimum temperatures are also expected to fluctuate over the coming days, falling after a brief increase.
Air Quality Remains Moderate
Despite recent rain and gusty winds, Delhi's air quality remained in the moderate category on Wednesday.
The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 169, slightly higher than Tuesday's reading of 164, indicating that while weather conditions have changed, air pollution levels remain a concern.
With thunderstorms, rain and strong winds expected over the next two days, Delhi residents are advised to stay updated with weather alerts and plan travel accordingly. The coming spell could offer temporary relief from the heat, but high humidity is likely to keep discomfort levels elevated until a more sustained weather change arrives.
Monsoon Likely to Reach Delhi by Late June
The southwest monsoon is expected to arrive in Delhi and the National Capital Region between June 25 and June 30, according to current projections. After reaching the capital, the monsoon is likely to advance further into northwestern parts of the country, including Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
