Delhi braces for stormy weather: IMD issues orange alert as rain and winds intensify
PTC Web Desk: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has upgraded its weather warning for Delhi to an orange alert for Friday, forecasting rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds reaching up to 70 km/h. This escalation from an earlier yellow alert signals a higher likelihood of significant disruption to daily life and infrastructure.
“Residents should remain alert and take necessary precautions,” an IMD official warned. The orange alert is the second-highest in the IMD’s colour-coded warning system, indicating potential risks such as traffic disruptions, damage to property, and power outages.
While Thursday morning carried no formal alert, the weather department anticipated light to moderate showers, which are expected to intensify by Friday. “Very light to light rain is likely today, but Friday could bring heavier showers and stronger winds,” the official added.
Despite the alert in the capital, surrounding NCR areas such as Gurgaon and Faridabad have not received similar warnings. However, Ghaziabad and Noida may experience light rain and isolated thunderstorms, according to the IMD, although no colour-coded alerts have been issued for these regions.
This May has already made weather history in the capital. Delhi has recorded 186.4 mm of rainfall, setting a new all-time high for the month. The previous record of 165 mm was set in May 2008, while the average monthly rainfall is just 30.7 mm.
Rain activity earlier this week has already caused issues across Delhi. On Sunday, intense rain and thunderstorms resulted in flight delays, waterlogging, power outages, and fallen trees, once again spotlighting the city’s vulnerability during extreme weather events.
The weather office has also reported that the southwest monsoon is advancing at a faster pace than usual this year. Though the monsoon generally arrives in Delhi by June 27, officials say it’s still too early to pinpoint its arrival in the capital. “We are closely monitoring the monsoon’s progress,” an IMD spokesperson stated.
This year, the monsoon arrived in Kerala on May 24, a week ahead of schedule, and reached Mumbai by May 26, well before the normal onset date of June 11.
In just the past month, five major storms have struck Delhi and the NCR, causing widespread damage and resulting in at least 12 fatalities from house collapses, electrocutions, and falling trees.
- With inputs from agencies
