Rainfall across parts of the national capital on Thursday brought much-needed relief from the prevailing heat, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued fresh weather alerts for Delhi-NCR and several other parts of North India.
The weather department has forecast cloudy skies, moderate rainfall and gusty winds over the region, with the southwest monsoon expected to advance further in the coming days.
Rain cools Delhi, strong winds expected
According to the IMD, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature between 33°C and 34.8°C on Wednesday, a noticeable drop from the recent heatwave conditions.
For Thursday, the department forecast maximum temperatures between 32°C and 34°C, accompanied by light to moderate rainfall and strong surface winds.
The IMD also issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR, warning of squally winds that could reach speeds of up to 100 kmph, urging residents to remain cautious during adverse weather conditions.
Monsoon advancing across North India
Senior IMD scientist Naresh Yadav said the southwest monsoon is set to advance further into Punjab, Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Gujarat’s west coast over the next few days.
The weather department has also issued a yellow alert for parts of western and central India due to the possibility of heavy rainfall.
Meanwhile, Konkan, Goa and South Gujarat are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall over the next four to five days, prompting the IMD to issue a red alert for these regions.
Uttarakhand fully covered by monsoon
The IMD confirmed that the southwest monsoon has now covered all parts of Uttarakhand.
An orange alert has been issued for five districts, including Dehradun, forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Several areas recorded significant rainfall on Wednesday, including Dehradun (56 mm), Jolly Grant (52.5 mm), Laksar (49 mm) and Mussoorie (43 mm).
Mining banned in Dehradun
In view of the active monsoon, Dehradun District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan has prohibited all river mining activities from July 1 to September 30.
Officials have been directed to ensure that no mining or stone-crushing operations continue during the period, with strict legal action to be taken against violators.
Authorities have advised residents in affected regions to stay updated with official weather advisories and avoid unnecessary travel during periods of heavy rain and strong winds.