Light Rainfall, Gusty Winds Push Mercury Down in Delhi-NCR; Flight Ops Affected

Delhi and the neighbouring National Capital Region (NCR) experienced light rainfall on Sunday as flight operations were affected due to bad weather at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The national capital is poised for a predominantly cloudy sky, accompanied by gusty winds throughout the day.

“Light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) forecast at various places on February 3rd, widespread on February 4th, and isolated on February 5th. Light to moderate hailstorms likely at isolated places on February 4th,” the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a bulletin on Feb 3.

Western Disturbance

“A fresh Western Disturbance seen as a trough in middle tropospheric westerlies roughly along Long. 60°E to the north Lat. 32°N with an induced cyclonic circulation over southwest Rajasthan & adjoining Pakistan in lower tropospheric levels,” it said.

Under the influence of these systems, the IMD predicted light to moderate, fairly widespread to widespread rainfall/snowfall with thunderstorms, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms are highly likely over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand on February 4. This is expected to decrease to isolated to scattered rainfall/snowfall on February 5, with dry weather thereafter.

Light to moderate, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, gusty winds, and isolated hailstorms, is very likely over Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi and Rajasthan on February 4, and over Uttar Pradesh on February 4 and 5. Isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall is also anticipated over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on February 4. Strong surface winds (reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph) are highly likely over Northwest India on February 4.

Light to moderate, scattered to fairly widespread rainfall/snowfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh during February 3 to 6, with isolated to scattered rainfall over West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, and Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur & Tripura from February 3 and 6. Isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall accompanied by hailstorms is also likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on February 5.

IMD also highlighted dense to very dense fog conditions are highly likely to persist in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi on February 5 and 6. Isolated heavy rainfall/snowfall is anticipated over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on February 4. Dense fog conditions are very likely to prevail in the morning hours in isolated pockets of Odisha, Assam & Meghalaya and Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura on February 4t and 5. Cold day conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh on February 4.