Heavy rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds swept across parts of Delhi-NCR on Saturday, providing significant relief from the recent heatwave conditions. The change in weather came shortly after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert warning of moderate to heavy rainfall and strong winds.
Key Highlights
- Delhi-NCR received widespread rainfall and thunderstorms, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures after days of intense heat.
- The national capital recorded its lowest maximum temperature in the past three weeks, with cloudy conditions prevailing throughout the day.
- The IMD has forecast continued rain and thunderstorm activity over parts of north India, including:
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Himachal Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
Rajasthan Still Faces Intense Heat
While northern states experienced relief, Rajasthan continued to endure severe heat, with temperatures remaining in the mid-40s Celsius. However, the IMD expects thunderstorm and rainfall activity to increase across the state, potentially easing conditions in the coming days.
Monsoon Outlook
The IMD has indicated that the southwest monsoon is likely to reach Kerala within the next week, marking the beginning of the country’s primary rainy season.
For the June-September monsoon period:
- Rainfall is projected at 90% of the Long Period Average (LPA).
- The LPA, based on 1971-2020 data, is 87 cm.
- A margin of error of ±4% has been provided.
Regional Rainfall Forecast
- The Northeast region is expected to receive near-normal rainfall.
- Most other parts of India may experience below-normal monsoon rainfall, according to current projections.
The evolving weather pattern is being closely monitored as rainfall activity increases across northern and central India and the monsoon advances toward the southern coast.