Several Flights Diverted As Hailstorm, Thunderstorms, Gusty Winds And Rain Hit Delhi-NCR, Bringing Big Relief

Parts of Delhi-NCR witnessed a sudden change in weather on Tuesday evening as rain, thunderstorms, and even hailstorms swept across the region. The unexpected spell brought much-needed relief from the intense early May heat.

Residents shared videos and photos of heavy rain and hail on social media, showing streets soaked and skies turning dark within minutes.

India Meteorological Department Issues Orange Alert

The weather department had already warned of unstable conditions. The IMD issued an orange alert for several parts of Delhi, indicating the possibility of:

• Moderate rainfall
• Thunderstorms
• Gusty winds
• Hailstorms

The alert covered areas including New Delhi, Central Delhi, West Delhi, North West Delhi, North East Delhi, Shahdara, and parts of South and South West Delhi.

Flights Diverted Due To Bad Weather:

Due heavy rain, thundering and wind storm- the Delhi airport diverts 5 flights

Cloudy skies had been seen since morning, with intermittent sunshine before the rain finally arrived in the evening.

Temperature Drops Across the City

The rainfall led to a noticeable drop in temperature, offering a break from the usual summer heat.

At Safdarjung, the city's main weather station, the minimum temperature was recorded at 19.6°C, which is significantly below normal for this time of the year.

Experts say such weather changes are not uncommon during seasonal transitions, especially when western disturbances affect northern India.

Similar Weather Likely to Continue

Weather experts believe that the relief may continue for the next few days. According to meteorologists, maximum temperatures are expected to remain below normal due to recent rainfall across north India.

The IMD has predicted a maximum temperature of around 33°C, which is lower than typical early May levels.

Air Quality Shows Improvement

The rain also helped improve air quality in the region. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 69, which falls in the "satisfactory" category.

This marks a noticeable improvement compared to usual pollution levels in the city.

What AQI Levels Mean

The AQI scale is used to measure air pollution levels:

• 0-50: Good
• 51-100: Satisfactory
• 101-200: Moderate
• 201-300: Poor
• 301-400: Very Poor
• 401-500: Severe

With the current AQI in the satisfactory range, residents are experiencing cleaner air along with cooler weather.

The sudden rain and thunderstorms have brought both relief and caution for residents of Delhi-NCR. While temperatures have dropped and air quality has improved, authorities continue to monitor conditions closely due to the possibility of further storms.

For now, the city is enjoying a short break from the heat, with pleasant weather expected to continue over the next couple of days.