Yet another strong thunderstorm swept parts of Delhi-NCR on Sunday evening, with wind speeds reaching close to 100 kmph. Rain lashed several areas, with Delhi’s primary weather station at Safdarjung reporting thunderstorm squalls and winds up to 80 kmph. Due to adverse weather, 14 flights were diverted from the Delhi airport between 4.30 pm and 6.10 pm, according to an airport source. Two flights were diverted to Chandigarh, two to Amritsar, seven to Jaipur, one to Ahmedabad, Dehradun and Lucknow each. Airlines also warned of potential disruptions due to weather conditions. “Rain and thunderstorms may impact flights to/from Delhi this evening. Please check your flight status and allow extra travel time,” Air India posted on X at 5 pm. “With ongoing thunderstorms and rain expected over Delhi, we’re seeing a chance of delays and slower traffic to and from the airport,” Indigo advised passengers on social media. This is the second consecutive day of flights facing disruptions; Saturday also witnessed one flight being diverted and many others getting delayed due to rain and gusty winds. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had sounded an orange alert around 5 pm, warning of strong winds, lightning, and moderate rainfall over most parts of the capital. Delhi’s primary weather station at Safdarjung reported thunderstorm squalls and winds up to 80 kmph. A thundersquall was recorded at Palam between 4.28 and 4.30 pm, with wind gusts peaking at 96 kmph — the highest during the storm. Pragati Maidan reported 76 kmph at 4.45 pm, while Safdarjung clocked 80 kmph and Palam 65 kmph at 4.30 pm. Jharoda Kalan saw winds of 37 kmph. The IMD bulletin has maintained a yellow alert for Delhi-NCR through June 3. Light rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds up to 60 kmph are expected on Monday and Tuesday. Light rainfall is also likely on Wednesday, June 4, but no alert has been issued. Minimum temperatures are expected to drop to 24°C by Wednesday, with daytime highs around 35°C — both below the normal for early June. In May, Delhi received 186.4 mm of rainfall — the highest ever recorded for the month in the city against the normal of 30.1 mm. Delhi’s air quality in May was also the cleanest for the month in over a decade, excluding the lockdown years 2020-21. The monthly average air quality index (AQI) stood at 170, placing it within the “moderate” category according to the Central Pollution Control Board classification. The IMD’s long-range forecast for June suggests no heatwave conditions in Delhi but indicates chances of excess rainfall and high heat index days.
