Heatwave Grips Delhi, Then Sudden Storm Brings Short Relief

The weather in Delhi-NCR has taken a sudden turn after several days of extreme and unbearable heat, bringing temporary relief in the form of strong winds, dust storms, and light drizzle on Saturday morning. Wind speeds were recorded between 60 to 80 km/h in many areas, with the highest reaching around 81 km/h in the Pusa region. Other areas such as Palam and Pragati Maidan also experienced strong gusts. The sudden weather change led to cloudy skies, reduced visibility to nearly 1500 meters in some locations, and raised the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning activity across the region. According to the India Meteorological Department, Delhi-NCR is expected to continue experiencing unstable weather conditions over the next few hours, including moderate to severe thunderstorms, dust storms, and intermittent rain. Wind speeds may again reach up to 60–80 km/h during this period. While the rain and winds have provided some relief from the scorching heat, they have also caused inconvenience due to dust storms and reduced visibility. Despite this brief relief, the overall weather trend remains severe. The capital is currently experiencing one of the harshest heat conditions in the last 16 years. So far in May, heatwave conditions have already been recorded on multiple days, and the IMD has issued an orange alert for heatwave conditions valid until May 28. Authorities have also warned that heatwave conditions are likely to persist for at least another week, with temperatures staying significantly above normal due to intense sunlight and hot winds during the day. On Friday, Delhi recorded extremely high temperatures. At the Safdarjung weather station, the maximum temperature reached 43.3°C, which is 3.1°C above the seasonal average, while the minimum temperature stood at 29.3°C. Humidity levels fluctuated between 19% and 34%. In some areas like Ridge, temperatures peaked at 44.4°C, further highlighting the severity of the heatwave. Forecasts suggest that the maximum temperature in the coming days may remain between 43°C and 45°C, while the minimum could stay between 27°C and 29°C. Even though occasional cloud cover, thunderstorms, and localized weather activity are possible, they are unlikely to bring sustained relief from the heat. Meteorological data also indicates that this year’s heatwave pattern may break previous records. In comparison to 2024, when six heatwave days were recorded in May, this year has already seen four such days, with more expected. If the current trend continues, 2026 could surpass past records and become one of the most intense heatwave years in recent history for Delhi.