Delhi weather alert: Red alert till 5 pm as rain, thunderstorms lash city

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning in northern Delhi over the next hour, followed by moderate to heavy rain with thunderstorms and lightning across most parts of the city over the next three hours.

Experts said the rain was due to the monsoon axis passing over the city. “In the north, since the monsoon axis will quickly move down, easterlies will take over from tomorrow (Friday) onwards; parts of Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Rajasthan are expected to receive a passing spell of moderate rains in the afternoon and evening hours starting tomorrow (Friday) into the weekend. Although these spells are going to be mostly localised, with general coverage of 30-40%, not everyone in the plains will receive rain from this spell,” said meteorologist Navdeep Dahiya.

Due to rain, the city’s maximum temperature, which recorded a high of 36.6°C on Thursday, is expected to dip and remain below 33°C from Saturday.

Meanwhile, due to the lack of rain over the past couple of days, the city’s overall air quality index (AQI) rose, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recording 134 (moderate) on Thursday, the highest in Delhi since July 19, when it was 171.

CPCB classifies AQI between 0 and 50 as “good”, between 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, between 101 and 200 as “moderate”, between 201 and 300 as “poor”, between 301 and 400 as “very poor”, and over 400 as “severe”.