A severe hailstorm has hit parts of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), with an orange alert already issued for Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad.
Pictures and videos posted on social media show large hailstones falling in Ghaziabad and other parts of the National Capital Region.
The weather in Delhi has affected operations at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, prompting IndiGo to issue a travel warning.
“Due to adverse weather conditions in Delhi and Dehradun, flight operations may be affected. We realize that long wait times, both on the ground and on board, may cause inconvenience, and we greatly appreciate your patience,” an IndiGo statement said.
While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast light to very light rain, thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) during the afternoon, it turned out to be a severe hailstorm in several parts of the district.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad, forecasting rain and thunderstorms on Thursday evening, while Gurugram and Faridabad, which were initially under yellow alert, have also been upgraded to orange alert. Outer parts of the National Capital Region, such as Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, are already under red alert.
The Meteorological Department expected the sky to be partly cloudy in the national capital on Friday and Saturday. Thunderstorms are likely from Sunday to Tuesday, so area residents will get some relief from the heat that has swept the region over the past few days.
Weather forecast for nearby areas
The IMD has forecast thunderstorms, strong winds and rain in many parts of Uttar Pradesh from Thursday. This change will not only provide relief from the heat but will also mark the beginning of pre-monsoon activities.
However, with this changeable weather, caution must also be taken, as strong winds and thunderstorms can cause damage.
