GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th June: After a prolonged spell of scorching temperatures, residents of the national capital received a gradual respite from heatwave conditions early Sunday, as several parts of the city experienced light rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted severe thunderstorms and strong winds for Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), advising residents to stay indoors. According to the IMD, “moderate to intense spell of rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning, and squally winds reaching speeds of 80-100 kmph” swept through the capital during the early Sunday hours. Two thundersqualls, along with hailstorm activity, were recorded at Safdarjung between 03:48 to 03:50 IST and 03:58 to 04:00 IST. The first squall saw gusty winds reaching 82 kmph, while the second peaked at 104 kmph, the IMD reported.
The weather department urged residents to take precautions, advising them to “Stay indoors and avoid travel unless necessary,” due to risks posed by flying debris and low visibility on the roads.
On Friday, the Safdarjung observatory, Delhi’s official weather station, recorded a maximum temperature of 41.2 degrees Celsius – a dip of 2.7 degrees from Thursday but still 1.3 degrees Celsius above normal. The minimum temperature remained high at 31.0 degrees Celsius, three degrees above the seasonal average. Humidity levels fluctuated between 51 percent and 69 percent, creating hot and uncomfortable conditions throughout the day.
IMD officials predict generally cloudy skies with very light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, dust storms, and lightning in the national capital until June 19. Gusty winds are also expected during thunderstorms.
This relief follows a “red alert” issued for Delhi due to extreme heatwave conditions, with daytime temperatures climbing between 41°C and 45°C, and minimum temperatures reaching 31°C, four degrees above the seasonal average.
In its extended range forecast, the IMD stated that the southwest monsoon is likely to advance over the remaining parts of central and eastern India, along with some areas in northwest India, between June 12 and 18. It is further expected to reach most parts of northwest India, including Delhi, between June 19 and 25. The normal date for the monsoon’s arrival in Delhi is around June 30.
This year, the monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, well ahead of its usual June 1 onset, and reached Mumbai by May 26, 16 days earlier than normal. According to IMD data, the monsoon reached Delhi on June 28 last year and on June 26 in 2023. In previous years, it arrived on June 30 (2022), July 13 (2021), and June 25 (2020). After a nearly 10-day pause, the monsoon has picked up pace again, particularly over southern India.
Since Wednesday, several parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Konkan, and Maharashtra have been experiencing heavy to very heavy rainfall. This renewed activity signals a strong northward push, indicating rapid progress of the monsoon across the country. The IMD also anticipates the second phase of the monsoon to spread across eastern India, bringing rainfall to West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh within the next week.
