Delhi Weather Today: Yellow Alert Issued, IMD Predicts More Downpour

Delhiites woke up to refreshing and pleasant morning on Tuesday, as the national capital experienced a fresh spell of rain. The city witnessed heavy showers and thunderstorms, resulting in significant disruptions to vehicular movement and the diversion of several flights.

According to an airport official, the inclement weather conditions in Delhi led to the diversion of 10 flights destined for the city. Between 6:25 pm and 8:00 pm, nine flights from Jaipur and one from Lucknow were redirected due to the adverse weather conditions prevailing in Delhi.

The heavy rainfall not only provided relief from the scorching heat but also caused inconvenience to commuters and travelers. The downpour resulted in waterlogged streets and reduced visibility, slowing down traffic and impeding smooth movement across the city.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said another western disturbance is likely to bring storms and rain to the northern plains, including Delhi, over the next few days. Maximum temperatures are predicted to remain below the 40-degree mark until June 5. The Safdarjung Observatory, Delhi's primary weather station, on Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 35.9 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal, as reported by PTI.

Delhi experienced moderate to severe thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds, reaching speed of 70-80 kilometres per hour, the Met office said. As gusty winds blew across the city, many pedestrians rushed for shelter as it began to rain while vehicular traffic was also affected. ''Due to bad weather in Delhi, 10 Delhi-bound flights were diverted (nine from Jaipur and one from Lucknow) between 6:25 pm and 8 pm,'' an airport official said.

The weather office has issued a 'yellow' alert for Wednesday, warning of traffic disruptions and inundation of low-lying areas due to rain. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 35 degrees Celsius.

May, historically the hottest month in Delhi with a mean maximum temperature of 39.5 degrees Celsius, has recorded below-normal temperatures and excess rain this time.

Meteorologists attributed the phenomenon to higher-than-usual western disturbances -- weather systems that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring unseasonal rainfall to northwest India -- this pre-monsoon season (March to May).

''Usually, five to six western disturbances are recorded in the northern plains in April and May. We saw 10 western disturbances, mostly strong ones, this time,'' said Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the Regional Forecasting Centre, IMD. Delhi recorded maximum temperatures above the 40-degree mark for just nine days in May with heatwave conditions affecting some parts for two days.

According to IMD data, the Safdarjung Observatory has so far recorded 86.7 mm of rainfall in May. On average, the national capital logs 19.7 mm of rainfall in the whole month.

The city logged more than 20 mm of rainfall in April, the highest in the month since 2017, and heatwave conditions at isolated pockets.

Overall, Delhi has gauged 158 per cent more rainfall -- 161.2 mm against a normal of 62.6 mm -- during the pre-monsoon period this year.