Delhi woke up to a cooler start on Tuesday morning as rain swept across several parts of the city, including Rafi Marg, India Gate, Kartavya Path and Lajpat Nagar. The change in weather brought relief from the recent heat, with more showers expected through the day.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Tuesday, warning of thunderstorms accompanied by light rain and gusty winds. The wet spell is expected to continue into Wednesday, for which a yellow alert has been issued.
The weather office has also indicated the possibility of isolated hailstorm activity over the next two days. A fresh western disturbance is likely to impact northwest India starting Wednesday, contributing to cloud cover and intermittent rainfall over the national capital region.
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Temperature dips across the city
The rain and persistent cloud cover are expected to bring down temperatures. The maximum temperature is likely to hover between 30 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may range between 19 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius.
Safdarjung recorded a minimum temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning. According to forecasts, the maximum temperature will be lower than usual, but the minimum will be near the seasonal norm. Temperatures are expected to rise again from April 10.
Gusty winds and safety advisory
Wind speeds are likely to increase gradually, reaching up to 20 kmph by evening and night. During thunderstorms, gusts may temporarily reach 60 kmph.
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The IMD has advised residents to take all safety measures since strong winds could make light things fly. People have been urged to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, and avoid taking shelter under trees or near water bodies during thunderstorms.
Air quality remains moderate
Delhi’s air quality remained in the moderate category on Tuesday, with an AQI of 117 recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board. Forecasts suggest that air quality is likely to stay in the same range until April 9.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is classified as moderate, indicating acceptable air quality with some impact on sensitive groups.
