A dust storm, accompanied by strong winds, hit Delhi NCR on Friday evening. A wind speed of 60-70 kilometre per hour was recorded by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at 6.30pm.
Delhi witnessed light rain today morning bringing some relief to the residents of the national capital from the heat conditions. Noida, Gurgaon, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad adjoining Delhi, too, received some rain. Yesterday, the temperature in Delhi had soared to 40 degrees Celsius. The presence of moisture over Delhi had made Thursday hot and humid.
The IMD official said that the storm was a result of a Western Disturbance and another dust storm is expected on Saturday, followed by very light rain.
A spokesperson of the Meteorological department said, “There isn’t much moisture in the air, so very light drizzle will occur in parts of the National Capital Region (NCR). Towards the evening, a dust storm with high-speed winds is very likely.”
“The next three to four days would see a generally cloudy sky with the possibility of light rain, thunder, and lightning,” the spokesperson said, adding that the day temperature would fall by around three degrees during the same period. Rainfall is likely to continue till at least Wednesday, said IMD officials.
The maximum temperature was 41.5°Celsius on Friday which is a marginal drop from Thursday’s daytime temperature of 41.8°Celsius.
The Met department has predicted that the dust storm and rain may lower Saturday’s maximum temperature to 40°Celsius. The mercury may further fall to 38°Celsius on Sunday and Monday as a result of continued thunderstorms and drizzle which may give a little sigh of relief from the scorching heat to the people in Delhi NCR.
As far as the minimum temperature is concerned. It was recorded at 30.5° Celsius on Friday, a rise of one degree Celsius from Thursday’s minimum temperature. The IMD stated that the minimum temperature too is likely to fall to 29°Celsius on Saturday, and a further drop to 27°Celsius on Monday.
Meanwhile, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s air quality index (AQI) monitor at Vikas Sadan in Sector 11, the city recorded poor air with a value of 279 on Friday. On Thursday, the AQI was 341 (very poor). Experts said that due to the high wind speed on Friday there was a marginal improvement in the air quality.
