Rain, thunderstorms lash Delhi, flight operations likely to be affected

NEW DELHI: The national capital woke up to rainy morning as moderate to heavy rains lashed parts of the city on Sunday (January 3) morning. According to reports, waterlogging has been reported in several areas of the national capital after fresh shower on Sunday morning. 

"Thunderstorm with light to moderate intensity rain would occur over many parts of entire Delhi, Gurugram, Farukhnagar, Kosli, Manesar, Sohna, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, Rewari, Bawal, Ballabgarh, Nuh and Tijara," IMD wrote in a tweet on Sunday. 

According to IMD, the minimum temperature in Delhi is likely to rise to 9 degrees Celsius in the next two to three days under the influence of the western disturbance. 

Low-cost airline SpiceJet took to social media to share weather-related traffic advisory, urging passengers to keep a check on their flight status. "Due to bad weather in Shirdi (SAG), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via bit.ly/2tG9xBx."

#WeatherUpdate: Due to bad weather (Heavy Rains) in Delhi (DEL), all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected. Passengers are requested to keep a check on their flight status via https://t.co/VkU7yLB2ny. — SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) January 3, 2021

Delhi witnessed rains and thunderstorm for the second consecutive days on Sunday. On January 2, parts of the national capital received light rain even as the minimum temperature rose to 7 degrees Celsius due to cloud cover over the city, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 441 existed in 'severe' category for the second day in a row. The monitoring stations in many parts of the city including ITO, Mandir Marg, Sirifort, RK Puram and Punjabi Bagh showed the AQI to be in 'severe' category.

"Moderate" fog lowered visibility to 201 metres at Safdarjung. A Met official said 1.2 mm rain was recorded at Safdarjung and Lodhi Road after 8.30 am. The maximum temperature was recorded at 19.2 degrees Celsius, he said.

"As per our forecast, the impact of a western disturbance has begun over northwest India, including Delhi. Palam has reported 0.4 mm rainfall. Ridge, Ayanagar and Lodi Road recorded traces of rainfall," the IMD said.

The minimum temperature in Delhi is likely to rise to 9 degrees Celsius in the next two to three days under the influence of the western disturbance, it predicted.