Dust Storm, Heavy Rain Lash Delhi-NCR, Airport Operations Hit; Orange Alert Issued
A sudden and dramatic change in weather swept across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Sunday evening, as dark clouds, strong gusty winds, dust storms, and heavy rain lashed the area, bringing much-needed relief from the prevailing scorching heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an “orange alert” for the national capital, warning of continued adverse weather conditions, which have already impacted passenger operations at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.
The weather took a sharp turn late Sunday afternoon, with strong winds buffeting the city. Videos from various parts of Delhi-NCR quickly circulated on social media, showing intense winds and thick dust storms drastically reducing visibility and prompting residents to seek shelter. The subsequent downpour led to a significant drop in temperatures, offering a welcome, albeit brief, respite from the intense summer heat that has gripped the region.
According to official data, wind speeds reached 67 kmph at Safdarjung and 65 kmph at Palam (IGI Airport). The highest gusts were reported from the Pragati Maidan area, where winds touched a fierce 76 kmph.
The IMD stated that rainfall activity accompanied by strong winds ranging from 60 to 70 kmph, gusting up to 80 kmph, along with thunderstorms and lightning, was likely to continue over most parts of Delhi for the next hour. This is expected to lead to cumulative rainfall in the moderate category (above 15.4 mm). Due to these adverse weather conditions, flight operations at IGI Airport were affected, with authorities and airlines advising passengers to check their flight status. Search results indicated that such weather on Saturday had already led to significant flight delays and at least one diversion.
This sudden change in weather was in line with earlier IMD forecasts, which had predicted light rain and thunderstorms accompanied by strong winds for Delhi-NCR during the final days of May and the beginning of June. The IMD had specifically forecast a cloudy sky with thunder and lightning for Saturday and Sunday, along with dust storms and rainfall. Similar conditions were witnessed in Delhi on Saturday, leading to a temperature drop of up to 9 degrees Celsius.
The month of May has been unusually wet for Delhi this year, setting a new record for rainfall. As of May 28, the city had already received 186.4 mm of rain, surpassing the previous high of 165 mm recorded in May 2008. Some reports from later in May indicated this figure rose to as high as 188.9 mm, making it the wettest May in over a century for the capital. This unusual weather pattern, marked by frequent thunderstorms and the absence of severe heatwave conditions typical for May, has been attributed by some meteorologists to broader weather systems, including the early arrival of the monsoon in other parts of India.
Authorities have advised residents to stay alert, secure loose items, and avoid taking shelter under trees during the stormy weather.
