Thursday was a day of lashing rain and strong winds in Delhi-NCR, with peak-hour traffic in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad at a standstill under a thunderstorm alert. The India Meteorological Department has warned of further spells through the day and urged people to be careful on the slippery, waterlogged roads, even if the showers have been a welcome break from the sticky heat of the past few days.
This is in the wake of midweek showers that drenched parts of the capital. Wednesday saw 64.5 mm in Pitampura, 51.1 mm at Pusa and 12 mm in Mayur Vihar, all under dark clouds and a steady breeze. Some have been in good spirits about it; one resident in South Ex was heard to be quite thrilled by the downpour.
What changed across Delhi-NCR today
A yellow alert was put out by the weather office for Thursday to cover the light to moderate rain and overcast conditions in the national capital. Temperatures were recorded at a low of 27 degrees Celsius and are not expected to go much beyond 34 degrees.
It comes hard on the heels of two days ago when Gurugram, Ghaziabad and swathes of Delhi were gridlocked by severe delays and waterlogging. Movement has once again been hampered as the morning and afternoon brought their share of intense pockets of rain.
IMD forecast: what comes next
The IMD is calling for showers and thunderstorms in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon on Thursday. Expect maximums in the 33-35 degree range and minimums of 25-27. It will be a matter of where you are in the city, with intermittent rain and cloudy periods.
In Gurugram the skies are overcast and a thunderstorm is on the cards before the rain sets in. With a top end of around 34 degrees Celsius, it will remain warm and humid regardless of the weather.
Temperatures and air quality
There is no doubt the relief is there, but the weather office does not foresee any major rainfall in the coming days. Once the sun comes out the humidity and heat can be expected to build up again. There are no warnings in effect for the near future. The Air Quality Index in Delhi was in the moderate bracket at 121 on Wednesday morning.
Commute and safety advisory
Driving conditions can alter in a hurry with the wind and standing water. Those travelling in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad would do well to allow for extra time, particularly during school and office hours, and be prepared for patchy slowdowns on the main thoroughfares.
When the rain and thunder come in, observe the following for your safety:
– Ease off the brake and reduce speed
– Leave a wider margin between vehicles
– If in any doubt as to the depth, steer clear of waterlogged sections
– Put on low-beam headlights
– Have a look at the IMD updates prior to setting out
Local rainfall snapshot
Wednesday’s figures illustrate how the city can be divided in an hour. IMD stations put down 64.5 mm for Pitampura and 51.1 mm for Pusa, while Mayur Vihar had only 12 mm. The impact on the commute can be very different from one side of town to the other.
Thursday has been no less variable, with the capital and suburbs seeing their share of strong winds and heavy rain in fits and starts. One should be on guard for the micro-conditions on both residential and arterial roads.
National outlook and risks
Looking outside of Delhi-NCR, a low-pressure system moving in the direction of Madhya Pradesh means the IMD is pointing to rain in several regions. Northern states could see lightning and gusty winds while central states are already active.
Heavy falls are anticipated in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Where the rain is continuous, low-lying areas may get waterlogged and cause some disruption for those living there.
For Delhi-NCR, it is short-term relief today and perhaps some discomfort later on. Roads require vigilance. Make sure to have your rain gear and plan for a buffer in your travel time until the alert is over, and follow the official word on forecasts.
