On Saturday, parts of Delhi experienced heavy rain and hailstorm, providing some relief from the warm weather. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that there will be more rain accompanied by thunderstorms during the day. The eastern and northern parts of Delhi witnessed rain and hailstorm, with thunderstorms and light to moderate intensity rain expected to occur over northeast Delhi (Karawal Nagar, Dilshad Garden, and Seemapuri) and adjoining areas. Hail precipitation is also expected over Burari, Civil lines, Kashmere Gate, Delhi University, Noida, and adjoining areas.
Light to moderate intensity rain is expected in northeast, northwest, west, and southwest Delhi (Burari, Kanjhawala, Rohini, Badli, Model Town, Azadpur, Pitampura, Delhi University, Mundka, Paschim Vihar, Punjabi Bagh, Rajouri Garden, Patel Nagar, Budha Jayanti Park, Jafarpur, Nazafgarh, Dwarka, Palam, IGI Airport) and in adjoining areas. Rain is also expected in the National Capital Region (Bahadurgarh, Ghaziabad, Chhapraula, Gurugram), Sohna in Haryana, and Saharanpur, Deoband, Nazibabad, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Khatauli, Sakoti Tanda, Daurala and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
The IMD has warned that strong winds and hail may damage plantations, horticulture and standing crops. Hail may also injure people and cattle in open places while strong winds may damage vulnerable structures and kuccha houses, walls and huts. The department has advised people to stay indoors, close windows and doors and avoid travel if possible. It has also advised people to not take shelter under trees or lean against concrete walls and to stay away from water bodies.
Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded in the ‘poor’ (231) category at around 8 am. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. On Friday, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 17.2 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 30.4 degrees Celsius.
