Delhi battered by overnight dust storm; orange alert issued for Thursday

Delhi Struck by Violent Dust Storm; Orange Alert for Thursday

Delhi battered by overnight dust storm - On Tuesday evening, Delhi was battered by a powerful dust storm, with wind gusts reaching 128kmph at Pusa. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned of similar weather patterns on Wednesday and raised an 'orange' alert for potential rain on Thursday.

Regional Rainfall and Wind Patterns

IMD data revealed varying rainfall across the city. Safdarjung recorded the highest precipitation of 9.6mm between 11:30pm and 2:30am, while Lodi Road saw 7.4mm from Tuesday evening to early Wednesday. Pusa reported 4mm overnight, and Palam experienced 120kmph winds, though it received just 0.1mm of rain. Pitampura logged 1mm of rainfall from 11:30pm to 8:30am, with Ridge, Ayanagar, and Mayur Vihar remaining dry.

“The city endured a mostly dry thunderstorm, which limited the cooling effect of rain and winds,” stated IMD officials.

Weather Alerts and Weekend Forecast

A yellow alert was issued for Wednesday, predicting partly cloudy skies with light rain and thunderstorms, alongside wind speeds of 60kmph. The IMD also anticipated thunderstorms over the weekend. Residents faced disruptions, including uprooted trees and fallen branches, in areas like Hauz Khas, Defence Colony, and Vasant Kunj. Social media platforms buzzed with images of trees damaging pavements and walls.

Impact on Air Travel

By Wednesday morning, only two flights had been redirected at Indira Gandhi International Airport, according to DIAL. FlightRadar24 indicated 193 delayed flights by 9:45am, comprising 65 arrivals and 128 departures.

Temperature Trends and Forecast

Wednesday’s high temperatures are expected to hover between 43°C and 45°C, near Tuesday’s 43.5°C. However, the minimum temperature dropped sharply to 22.9°C, a 5.1°C decline from the IMD’s seasonal average and a 6.3°C drop compared to Tuesday’s low. A gradual rise in maximum temperatures is projected from Saturday, with readings likely between 38°C and 40°C by June 16.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Levels

Delhi’s air quality remained moderate, with a 24-hour AQI of 164 on Tuesday, surpassing Monday’s 151. At 9:05am on Wednesday, the AQI climbed to 167. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) categorizes AQI as follows: 0–50 is “good,” 51–100 “satisfactory,” 101–200 “moderate,” 201–300 “poor,” 301–400 “very poor,” and 401–500 “severe.”

Expected Temperature Shift

Rainfall activity is anticipated to lower temperatures by Friday, with maximums projected between 34°C and 36°C. However, a slight rebound is expected over the weekend as weather conditions stabilize.