Delhi gets rain relief after scorching heat; IMD predicts thunderstorms and gusty winds

Delhi received sudden evening showers after a hot and humid day, while IMD predicted thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds as the southwest monsoon steadily advances across India.

New Delhi: The national capital witnessed a sudden spell of rain on Sunday evening after enduring intense heat through the day, bringing temporary relief to residents across several parts of the capital. Light showers were reported near the Indira Gandhi International Airport area, marking a sharp shift in weather conditions.

According to the India Meteorological Department, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 27.7°C on Sunday morning. The night temperature remained slightly above normal, reflecting persistent warm and humid conditions despite the rainfall.

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Thunderstorms and strong winds likely

The IMD had earlier forecast partly cloudy skies with chances of thunderstorms, lightning and scattered rainfall across the national capital.

The department said light rain could continue along with gusty winds of 40-50 kmph, with wind speeds occasionally touching 60 kmph during thunderstorm activity.

The day temperature was expected to remain around 36°C, indicating that humidity levels may continue to trouble residents even after the showers.

Monsoon likely to reach Delhi by late June

Meteorological projections suggest the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Delhi between June 25 and June 30, which is considered the normal onset period for the capital.

Once active, the monsoon is expected to cover the wider National Capital Region simultaneously, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad.

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Monsoon advances across multiple states

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon has continued advancing across India, covering parts of the northeastern and central-western Bay of Bengal.

The monsoon has already reached Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.

The IMD has also predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall across Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of Northeast India over the coming week. Karnataka may witness extremely heavy rainfall between June 8 and June 10.