New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) Delhi-NCR experienced a sudden change in weather on Wednesday morning as intense dust storms were followed by spells of rain, offering much-needed relief from a severe heatwave that had pushed temperatures up to 44.5 degrees Celsius earlier this week.

Dark clouds covered large parts of the region as rain and storm activity began in the early hours, triggered by western disturbances that brought rapid atmospheric changes and helped bring down temperatures within an hour. The shift comes at a time when Delhi was already under a “yellow alert” for heatwaves.

The maximum temperature, which was earlier expected to reach around 41 degrees Celsius, is now likely to settle closer to 38 degrees Celsius after the rainfall activity, according to weather updates.

The Regional Weather Forecast Centre (RWFC) in New Delhi predicted light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph across Delhi and the National Capital Region during the morning hours. It also indicated that similar weather conditions were expected across several nearby areas, including parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

The RWFC forecast included regions such as Sonipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Rewari, Palwal, Nuh, Bhiwani, Panipat, Hisar (Haryana), Baraut, Meerut, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Khurja (Uttar Pradesh), as well as Alwar, Kotputli, and nearby areas in Rajasthan, which were likely to receive light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorm activity.

In addition, light rain was also expected in other pockets, including Jind, Gohana, Safidon, Hansi, Tosham, and Shamli, among others, as weather systems continued to remain active across northwestern India.

While the sudden change brought temporary relief from extreme heat, it also led to dust-laden winds and brief disruptions in visibility in several areas during the morning hours.

Meanwhile, air quality in the national capital remained in the “poor” category. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 260, indicating persistent pollution levels despite rainfall activity.

Meteorological officials said such pre-monsoon weather fluctuations are common during this period, when western disturbances interact with rising surface temperatures, often resulting in thunderstorms, dust storms, and brief rain spells across northern India.

–IANS

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