The national capital, Delhi, experienced a sudden and much-needed spell of rain, bringing respite from the sweltering heat. The pre-monsoon rain was accompanied by strong winds, resulting in a significant drop in temperatures. The dust storm, which hit in the evening, provided a much-needed relief from the scorching afternoon sun, which had reached around 35 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted the dust storm, followed by a thunderstorm with rain and gusty winds, with speeds ranging from 40 to 70 kmph, to occur over and adjoining areas of the entire Delhi and NCR within the next two hours. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 22.6 degrees Celsius, which is normal for this time of the year, while the maximum temperature is likely to settle around 38 degrees Celsius. The regional meteorological department had previously forecast light to moderate intensity rain for Delhi-NCR. Earlier, the IMD had predicted that the temperature in Delhi would remain around 38 degrees Celsius for the next 2-3 days, with a possibility of light rain on Monday. Despite a cool breeze in the evening, Delhi had remained above 30 degrees Celsius without any rainfall. The Met Office has warned that four to eight heatwave days are expected in different parts of the country in April, compared to the normal one to three days. Moreover, ten to 20 days of heatwave conditions are anticipated against the usual four to eight during the entire April-June period. This intense heat could strain power grids and lead to water shortages in various parts of India. Global weather agencies, including the IMD, are also anticipating La Nina conditions to develop later in the year. La Nina conditions, which are characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean, typically lead to stronger monsoon winds and more rainfall in India, in contrast to El Nino conditions, which are associated with weaker monsoon winds and drier conditions. In a mid-April update, the IMD predicted that India would experience above-normal cumulative rainfall during the 2024 monsoon season, with La Nina conditions, expected to set in by August-September, being the primary driving factor.
Delhi Relief as Thunderstorm, Rain Break Heat Spell
