On May 21, a powerful storm and subsequent rain caused traffic jams, waterlogging, and power outages in a number of locations across Delhi and Noida. In numerous places, trees were uprooted and hoardings were destroyed; in other places, winds of up to 79 kmph were recorded. Additionally, airlines issued alerts stating that flight operations may be affected by the weather change. Noida and the capital city were hit by strong winds that left broken windows and damaged hoardings in their wake. Lodi Road in Delhi experienced a hailstorm, and Safdarjung experienced winds of 79 kmph. Strong winds were seen causing trees to swing fiercely.
As residents sought refuge, the capital was first struck by gusty winds and dust storms. A significant change in the weather was brought about by the rain that followed the dust storm. Temperatures in Delhi have been rising, making it difficult for people to move throughout the day. The capital saw a high of 41.8 degrees on Tuesday, indicating that the temperature has been rising. Now Karnal's streets were splattered with rain, and Ghaziabad also experienced lightning, strong gusts, and a lot of rain. Many trees and hoardings in the national capital were overturned by the storm, despite the fact that the pre-monsoon showers provided much-needed relief from the intense heat.
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A passenger captured a video of an aircraft in midair during turbulence. Sheikh Samiullah, a startup co-founder, captured the footage, which showed the plane seats trembling in the midst of erratic weather.
The Delhi airport stated in a post on X that the bad weather may affect flight operations and that travellers should check with the relevant airlines for a revised flight itinerary.
IndiGo and Air India have issued separate advisories advising travellers to verify the status of their flights before arriving at the airport.
Northern India has been experiencing sporadic rains and thunderstorms due to a series of western disturbances. A cyclonic circulation over the Arabian Sea is also bringing humid air into Delhi, which is causing humidity levels to rise sharply.