Weather update: Dust storm, heavy rainfall likely in Delhi-NCR today, predicts IMD

(Credits: PTI)

New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the national capital is likely to experience a dust storm or a thunderstorm on Friday (April 22, 2022). The Met office informed that the dust storm is likely to be accompanied by moderate to heavy intensity rains.

"Thunderstorm/duststorm with moderate intensity rain with heavy intensity rain over isolated places and gusty winds with a speed of 40-60 km/h would occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and NCR (Gurugram, Manesar, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Noida)," the IMD said in a tweet.

21/04/2022: 23:40 IST; Thunderstorm/Duststorm with moderate intensity rain with heavy intensity rain over isolated places and gusty winds with speed of 40-60 Km/h would occur over and adjoining areas of entire Delhi and NCR (Gurugram, Manesar, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Noida, — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) April 21, 2022

After witnessing a series of heatwaves in the month, Delhiites are finally witnessing a slight dip in temperature. As the capital experiences cloudy weather, the mercury in the national capital dropped to a refreshing 25 degrees Celsius at 0030 hours on Friday. 

The maximum temperature is predicted to remain below the 40-degree mark on Friday.

Heatwave conditions

According to IMD, the mercury will rise again to 42 degrees Celsius by next week. 

The weather department had earlier said northwest India and adjoining parts of central India are likely to see more intense and frequent heatwave conditions in April.

Earlier, on Tuesday, eight out of the 12 weather stations in the national capital had witnessed "a heatwave to severe heat conditions", recording a maximum temperature of more than 43 degrees Celsius, making it the warmest day of the season.

Delhi’s power demand soars

Notably, Northwest India this year recorded the hottest March in 122 years, with an average maximum temperature surpassing the previous record of 30.67 degrees Celsius in 2004. 

Delhi`s power demand touched 5,735 MW on April 19, the highest ever in the month of April for the city.

This increase in demand amounts to over 28 per cent from April 1, 2022, when the city clocked 4,469 MW power demand. On Monday, the peak power demand clocked 5,641 MW.

Since March 1, Delhi`s peak power demand has increased by over 42 per cent, when the city had clocked 4,040 MW.

In the month of April, Delhi`s peak power demand has already crossed 5,000 MW in nine days so far.

When compared to earlier years, Delhi`s peak power demand in April had not crossed 5,000 MW even once in 2021 and 2020. 

(With ANI inputs)