Heavy downpour chokes national Capital

New Delhi: Rains lashed the national Capital all through the day on Friday, affecting traffic movement with the visibility dropping considerably in the afternoon due to dense clouds. Some parts also witnessed heavy rains along with thunderstorms. Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the regional weather forecasting centre of India Meteorological Department, said the national Capital has been receiving spells of rains since March 4 due to a western disturbance. The frequency of rains is likely to reduce on Saturday, he said.

Western disturbances are storms that originate in the Mediterranean and bring rains over the hills and north Indian plains. The IMD said the

Safdarjung Observatory, which provides representative figures for Delhi, recorded 20.4 mm rainfall till 8:30 am. The weather station at Palam gauged 15.3 mm rainfall, Lodhi Road recorded 20.6 mm, Ayanagar 19.1 mm and Ridge 18.6 mm, it added.

The rains led to waterlogging in several areas, which affected traffic movement in the morning hours. Traffic congestion was reported from several areas as vehicles moved bumper to bumper. Rains over the last two days have brought the mercury down. The city recorded a minimum temperature of 12 degrees Celsius on Friday morning. The maximum temperature is likely to settle at 22 degrees Celsius.

Rains and strong winds have improved the city's air quality. At 9:45 am, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 69, which falls in the satisfactory category. More rains are likely during the day, along with a hailstorm, at isolated places, the IMD said. Winds gusting up to 40-50 kilometres per hour are predicted to sweep across the region. "Although the weather activity will start reducing at some places, Delhi and its adjoining areas may continue to receive isolated rains. During the same episode, a few parts of West and Central Uttar Pradesh may witness heavy rain and thundershower activities," said the weather experts.

From March 8, the weather will start clearing up from entire Northwest India further leading the maximums to rise. However, the sky may remain partly cloudy at a few places. Rains and strong winds over the last two days have improved the city's air quality. At 9:45 am, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 69, which falls in the satisfactory category. Similar rains and hailstorms are likely over Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan, Delhi, and multiple parts of West Uttar Pradesh.