The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, forecasting thunderstorms, gusty winds reaching up to 50 kilometers per hour, and light to very light rainfall throughout the week. This comes after scattered light rain was recorded in parts of the city on Monday morning.
Delhi witnessed a significant rainfall of 81.4mm on Sunday morning, raising the total rainfall for May to 186.4mm — the highest ever recorded for the month since IMD records began in 1901. The previous May record was 165mm in 2008, while the long-period average rainfall for May is just 30.7mm. This means Delhi has experienced more than six times the usual rainfall this month.
IMD officials have warned that this wet weather pattern will continue through the week, with intermittent rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds likely until May 31. “Thunderstorms and winds touching up to 50 km per hour are expected,” said an IMD representative.
On Monday morning, locations including Safdarjung, Lodhi Road, and Ayanagar recorded trace rainfall. The minimum temperature was recorded at 25.2°C, slightly below the usual average, while the maximum temperature is expected to rise slightly to between 34-36°C. The Air Quality Index showed an improvement, dropping to 97 (satisfactory) from 105 (moderate) the previous evening.
The recent thunderstorms have caused significant disruption across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). On Sunday, a thunderstorm accompanied by three hours of heavy rain led to waterlogging, power outages, and uprooted trees. Over 400 flights were delayed and 49 were diverted to nearby airports due to wind gusts reaching 82 km/h.
This month’s severe dust storms and thunderstorms have tragically resulted in at least 12 fatalities in the region, caused by house collapses, electrocution, and falling trees. The incidents highlight the pressing need for improved infrastructure and disaster preparedness ahead of the monsoon season.
Residents are advised to remain cautious and stay updated with weather warnings as the city braces for continued unsettled weather conditions.
Sources By Agencies
