New Delhi, March 19 (NationPress) The skies over Delhi and its surrounding areas were shrouded in clouds on Thursday, with temperatures around 19 degrees Celsius, following a day of severe weather that provided a welcome respite from the increasing heat. Despite this favorable change, air quality continued to fluctuate between the ‘moderate’ and ‘poor’ categories throughout the city.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for the national capital, advising residents and local authorities to stay vigilant for potential disruptions. The weather bureau stated, “Light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong surface winds with speeds reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, are likely to occur in numerous areas.” These conditions are anticipated to persist until Friday.

On Wednesday evening, a sudden onset of severe weather hit Delhi, characterized by dust storms, significant rainfall, lightning, and strong winds, disrupting everyday life. At Indira Gandhi International Airport, at least 16 flights were rerouted to nearby airports due to the adverse weather.

Officials recommended that residents remain indoors and keep away from windows, electric poles, and power lines during the storm. The IMD also cautioned against leaving loose items unsecured, as the strong winds could present safety hazards.

Wind speeds were recorded at notable levels across various monitoring stations in the city. Pragati Maidan experienced the highest gust at 68 kmph, followed by Pusa at 65 kmph and Palam at 52 kmph. Other areas, including Lodhi Road, IGNOU, and Pitampura, reported wind speeds ranging from 43 kmph to 48 kmph.

In addition, other regions across the country are expected to experience similar weather patterns. Thunderstorms are anticipated in most districts of West Bengal on March 20 and 21, due to favorable atmospheric conditions and moisture influx from the Bay of Bengal. Hailstorms are projected in areas like Bankura, Purulia, and Paschim Bardhaman on March 20, while northern districts such as Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri may also encounter similar weather.

In southern India, light rain accompanied by thunderstorms is expected in isolated regions of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal on March 19, with scattered showers likely to continue on March 20. By March 21, the rainfall activity is predicted to shift towards the Western Ghats and parts of southern Tamil Nadu.

Despite the rainfall, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi remained in the ‘moderate’ range. Key monitoring stations reported varying AQI levels, including Anand Vihar (148), Ashok Vihar (144), Bawana (158), Chandni Chowk (162), Dwarka Sector-8 (161), and Wazirpur (187), highlighting ongoing pollution issues.