The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for rain and thunderstorms in Delhi. The alert, which was issued at 3:20pm on Saturday, remains in effect until 6:24pm according to the weather board. During this time, a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and strong winds of 40 to 50 kilometers per hour are expected.
Central, eastern, New Delhi, north, northeast, northwest, Shahdara, south, southeast, southwest and western areas of Delhi are expected to receive rain.
The Meteorological Department had also predicted rain during its morning alert, but despite this, Delhi saw a slight increase in the minimum temperature. “The sky is expected to remain partly cloudy on Saturday. Light to very light rain is expected from afternoon to evening, along with thunderstorms and strong gusty winds with speeds ranging between 40 and 50 kilometers per hour,” an IMD official said.
Safdarjung, the city’s weather representative, recorded a minimum temperature of 28.7 degrees Celsius, 1.7 degrees higher than the previous day. The minimum at Safdarjung was also 0.7 degrees higher than normal, news agency PTI reported.
Read also: Heavy rains expected in more than 10 districts of Tamil Nadu as southwest monsoon intensifies
Similar predictions were made on Friday night as well, when the IMD issued a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms.
Monsoon delay keeps Delhi waiting
While there have been some days of pleasant weather and rainy days in Delhi, the national capital is yet to witness heavy rains.
Meanwhile, the monsoon is delayed in several parts of India, including Maharashtra and Goa, with the onset of the El Niño weather phenomenon. Despite rainfall in Kerala earlier this month, the monsoon has yet to hit many areas.
Read also: The start of the Indian monsoon is bumpy: why is the rain so late?
The region-wise rainfall map prepared by the weather board shows that the rainfall deficit in central India, eastern and northeastern India, southern peninsula and northwest India is 67 percent, 42 percent, 22 percent and 6 percent, respectively.
