NEW DELHI: In an unexpected turn of events, Delhi-NCR experienced a significant weather shift on Monday. Gusty winds, accompanied by rain, suddenly swept across parts of the national capital, resulting in an array of consequences. As a result of these weather conditions, 13 flights had to be diverted from Delhi's airport to alternative destinations such as Jaipur, Lucknow, and Ahmedabad between 7 pm and 11 pm on that fateful day. The sudden weather disruptions left airline sources scrambling to manage the situation.
The diversions primarily occurred during the four-hour window from 7 pm to 11 pm. Although the flights were redirected to Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow, detailed information about the specific flights involved in the diversion remained unavailable at the time of reporting, as confirmed by officials with knowledge of the situation.
The unusual weather phenomenon witnessed on Monday included gusty winds, rainfall, thunder, and lightning, affecting various parts of the Delhi-NCR region. Rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning struck areas such as Noida, Indirapuram, south Delhi, and east Delhi. The sudden change in weather led to a noticeable drop in temperature, with the mercury plummeting to 30.5 degrees Celsius. This was a departure from the season's average by three notches.
Mahesh Palawat, the Vice President of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, took to social media to provide insights into the developing weather situation. He posted that heavy thunderstorms and rain clouds were moving across Delhi and the NCR region from west to east, suggesting the possibility of intense rain and hail storms. In another post, he noted that light rain and cool winds had reduced Delhi's maximum temperature by 5 degrees, bringing it down from 36.5 to 30.5 degrees Celsius within the last 24 hours. He also speculated that the minimum temperature might experience a similar drop.
Residents of Delhi noticed a distinct chill in the air on Monday, as the weather transformed rapidly. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 195 at 9 am but deteriorated to a poor category, reaching an AQI of 207 at 4 pm. However, by 7 pm, there was a marginal improvement, and the AQI settled into the moderate category with a reading of 200.
The weather department issued a forecast for Tuesday, indicating a generally cloudy sky with the possibility of light rain or thundershowers. Maximum and minimum temperatures were expected to hover around 31 and 20 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The abrupt weather changes in Delhi on Monday not only caught residents off guard but also had a significant impact on air travel, leading to the diversion of 13 flights. The unexpected rainfall, thunderstorms, and drop in temperature made for an eventful day in the national capital.
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