Delhi Weather Update: A huge dust storm and thunderstorm hit Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday evening amid scorching heat. The IMD has predicted that light showers may also hit the region.
"Duststorm/ thunderstorm with rain (followed by rain) and gusty winds with speed of 50-70 Km/h would occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and NCR (Loni Dehat, Hindon AF Station, Ghaziabad, Indirapuram, Chhapraula, Noida, Dadri, Greater Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad," the India Meteorological Department said in a post on X.
Amid a massive dust storm, two Air India flights have been diverted to Jaipur, as per Delhi airport sources.
Issuing an advisory for the dust storm, the MeT department urged the people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.
“Residents are urged to stay indoors, secure their windows and doors and refrain from unnecessary travel," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in the advisory. The IMD asked people to seek safe shelters and avoid cover under trees.
The Delhi Traffic Police have issued a traffic alert on Dharam Marg and Janakpuri after a road at B2 Janakpuri was blocked by a large broken tree. In a post on X, the traffic police said asked commuters to avoid the stretch.
There were multiple reports of trees falling in different areas due to the strong winds in the city.
The weather department had earlier predicted generally cloudy skies with the possibility of dust storms and thunderstorms on Friday, with light rain accompanied by hailstorms at isolated places. Squally winds with speeds of 60-70 kmph were also predicted for Friday night.
"Due to the new active western disturbance, the capital will experience drizzle late Friday night, Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist and head of the Regional Meteorological Centre, had said earlier.
The maximum temperature settled at 39 degrees Celsius on Friday. The relative humidity oscillated between 47 and 64 per cent during the day, the IMD said.
The minimum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle at 39 and 29 degrees Celsius respectively on Saturday. There was a high chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday, Srivastava said.
With inputs from PTI
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