Delhi Drenched: Red Alert Issued as Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Lash Capital
Heavy rain and thunderstorms hit Delhi on Friday, prompting a red alert from the IMD. The downpour disrupted Janmashtami celebrations, with more intense weather expected.
The national capital was hit by a sudden spell of heavy rain on Friday, as dark clouds gathered over the city and prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert. The advisory warns of intense rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds expected later in the day.
The unseasonal downpour caught many by surprise, particularly those who were out on the streets for Janmashtami celebrations. Rain-soaked roads became a common sight, with people scrambling for cover and umbrellas dotting the thoroughfares as the intensity of the showers increased.
According to the IMD's three-hourly rainfall data, the Palam observatory recorded 3.4 mm of rain between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm. In contrast, Najafgarh saw a lighter 0.5 mm between 8:30 am and 11:30 am. Most other monitoring stations in the city reported no rainfall during these specific windows.
In its short-range forecast issued at 2:15 pm, the weather office predicted a spell of light to moderate rain, along with thunderstorms and lightning, at many places between 2:15 pm and 4:15 pm, with heavy rain expected at isolated spots. A subsequent spell is anticipated between 5 pm and 8 pm, affecting most areas with similar conditions.
The IMD has also indicated that moderate rainfall is likely across most of the city, with heavy falls of 50-100 mm possible at a few locations. These showers are expected to be accompanied by strong winds reaching 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph, over the next few hours.