Delhi Receives Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms, Airlines Issue Travel Advisories

Delhi and its surrounding regions experienced heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on Tuesday, prompting airlines to issue travel advisories while providing relief from unusually high September temperatures.

The India Meteorological Department issued an alert at 11:03 am, forecasting scattered showers across parts of Delhi until 2 pm, with rainfall expected to remain below 5 mm. The downpour coincided with ongoing Durga Puja celebrations, as thousands of devotees visited pandals throughout the city despite the wet conditions.

Flight Operations Affected in Delhi

Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air issued advisories requesting passengers traveling to and from Delhi to verify their flight status due to the sudden weather change. The airlines cautioned travelers about potential delays and disruptions resulting from the rainfall.

According to IMD forecasts, the precipitation will extend beyond Delhi to include Haryana’s Sonipat, Charkhi Dadri, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Sohna, Rewari, and Nuh districts. In Uttar Pradesh, Noida, Khatauli, and Sakoti Tanda are also expected to receive light showers.

Temperature Relief

The rainfall brought significant temperature reduction to the national capital, which had been experiencing exceptionally warm conditions throughout September. On Monday, the maximum temperature reached 37.5 degrees Celsius. The previous day recorded 38.1 degrees Celsius, marking the hottest September day in two years. The last comparable reading was 38.6 degrees Celsius on September 5, 2023.

Tuesday’s maximum temperature is forecast to settle around 35 degrees Celsius, offering respite from the recent heat wave.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 28.7 degrees Celsius, 5.4 notches above normal levels. Relative humidity measured 74 percent at 8:30 am, according to IMD data.

Air Quality Status

Delhi’s Air Quality Index stood at 114 at 8 am, categorized as ‘moderate’ by the Central Pollution Control Board. The CPCB classification system defines AQI levels as follows: 0-50 as ‘good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 as ‘moderate’, 201-300 as ‘poor’, 301-400 as ‘very poor’, and 401-500 as ‘severe’.

The weather change has provided welcome relief for residents while potentially affecting outdoor festival activities and transportation schedules across the Delhi-NCR region. Authorities continue monitoring weather conditions and their impact on daily operations.