IMD predicts light rain in Delhi, dust storms to continue
What's the story
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday predicted the ongoing dust storms in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR), Rajasthan, Haryana, and West Uttar Pradesh, would continue till Thursday. However, Delhi residents are expected to witness some respite from the heat as light to moderate rain will likely occur in the national capital on Wednesday, the weather department said.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The national capital has been reeling under a heat spell as the maximum temperatures in the region have consistently been above 40 degrees Celsius in the last five days. The lack of rain has reportedly triggered dust storms over the past few days. While rains were predicted for parts of the northeast, heatwave conditions persist in parts of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Details
Rainfall and thunderstorms in Delhi, adjoining areas: IMD
Thunderstorms, light to moderate rainfall, and gusty winds are expected in the national capital on Wednesday, according to the IMD. Rain is expected in North Delhi, North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi, West Delhi, Central Delhi, East Delhi, the NCR, and adjoining areas like Haryana, it said. The weather service further predicted that the dust storm would most likely last till Thursday in Delhi.
Twitter Post
IMD shares weather updates on Twitter
Thunderstorm/ Dust storm with light to moderate intensity rain and gusty winds with speed of 30-50 Km/h would occur over and adjoining areas of many places of Delhi, North Delhi, North-East Delhi, North-West Delhi, West Delhi, Central-Delhi, East Delhi and NCR ( Loni Dehat, pic.twitter.com/SlBuBPDdbv
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 17, 2023
Other states
Heavy rainfall forecast in some northeastern states
According to the IMD, widespread light to moderate rain is very likely expected over northeast India. Until Friday, heavy rains are also expected in isolated places of the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura. Furthermore, the IMD has forecast isolated very heavy rainfall in parts of Assam and Meghalaya till Friday.
Heatwave
Weather department predicts high temperatures for Maharashtra, Odisha
The IMD's latest weather bulletin said that temperature was likely to rise by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius over many parts of Maharashtra from Wednesday. Moreover, heatwave conditions in isolated pockets are very likely over Odisha until Wednesday, it said. In northwest India, a dust storm is very likely in isolated pockets over Rajasthan until Thursday, the IMD added.
Twitter Post
Weather forecast about heatwave and dust storms
Forecast of extreme weather.#Heatwave #weather #Duststorm #Rainfall #IMD #india@moesgoi @airnewsalerts @ndmaindia @DDNewslive pic.twitter.com/ZXc0y9eINZ
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 15, 2023
AQI
AQI affected by strong winds, dust
Meanwhile, the national capital's overall air quality decreased owing to strong winds raising dust. The air quality at Dhirpur, Delhi, fell into the "very poor" category with an air quality index (AQI) of 323, while Lodhi Road fell plummeted into "poor" category with an AQI of 225. Gurugram had an AQI of 280 in the "poor" category, while Noida recorded an AQI of 266.