Oppressive heat for a couple of days finally gave way to dust storm followed by rain in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and West Uttar Pradesh on Monday evening. Fairly widespread rain has occurred over plains of North India including North Rajasthan.
According to reports from the Delhi airport, more than 20 flights were diverted and many others were delayed in wake of dust storm, squally winds and thundershowers. International flyers also had to bear the brunt of it as a Saudi Arabia flight from Riyadh was diverted to Ahmedabad while an AirArabia flight from Sharjah was diverted to Jaipur.
A signboard near the DLF Mall of India in Noida Sector 18 collapsed and fell on a car due to thunderstorm and killed one and injured two other. The driver was injured but a passing motorcyclist died on the spot. According to media reports, three people were also injured after a hoarding collapsed in Meerut after rain and thundershowers.
The day maximum in Hisar, Narnaul, Rohtak and Delhi had touched 40 degree Celsius in the afternoon hours. However, rain and thundershowers brought down temperatures significantly. From a high of 40.9°C by 2:30 pm in Delhi, the mercury plunged to 27°C around 5.30 pm.
Multiple weather system affecting North India
This spell of rain could be attributed to a cyclonic circulation over North Rajasthan and adjoining Punjab which has been induced by an active Western Disturbance over Jammu and Kashmir. A trough from this system is also extending up to Gangetic West Bengal, across Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. Moist easterly winds were reaching up to Haryana and Punjab, during the reign of cyclonic storm Roanu. After its dissipation, the east-west trough increased moisture content over the plains of North India.
The combined effect of these weather systems led to thundery cloud formation over many parts of North India, which brought good thundershowers at many places.
Here’s a look at the rainfall figures during last 24 hours:
Chandigarh has also received 8 mm of rainfall along with other places in the region. Now, the Western Disturbance is moving away and the induced cyclonic circulation will also fade away gradually. We expect isolated rain and thundershowers to occur over plains of North India till May 24. Thereafter, winds will change direction and hot westerly winds will replace relatively more humid easterly winds.
Weather will clear up and temperatures will start rising we do not expect any heatwave conditions as another spell is expected around May 29.
Image credit - Indian Express
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