An orange alert has been issued for Delhi for the upcoming hours as moderate to severe thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and isolated hailstorms are very likely at several places across the national capital, according to weather officials.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall along with strong winds blowing at speeds of 50-60 kilometres per hour, gusting up to 70 kilometres per hour during thunderstorm activity.
“Thunderstorm activity has already begun over northern parts of Rajasthan and is expected to spread to Delhi by evening and continue through the night,” said Mahesh Palawat of Skymet Weather Services.
He added that the intensity of the storm activity is likely to increase on Thursday and the weather system may continue affecting Delhi till May 30 before gradually shifting towards Gujarat between May 30 and 31.
“The current spell of pre-monsoon rains is likely to be stronger than the pre-monsoon showers witnessed in Delhi earlier this month and in April, leading to widespread rainfall activity across the city,” Palawat said.
According to meteorologists, the weather activity is being triggered by a western disturbance over the Himalayan region, an induced cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan and adjoining areas, along with moisture-laden winds arriving from the Bay of Bengal.