Gurgaon Battles Thunderstorms as IMD Issues Weather Alerts for Haryana
On Wednesday evening, Gurgaon was lashed by light to moderate spells of rain, accompanied by gusty winds, thunder, and lightning. This sudden weather change has prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue yellow and orange alerts for similar conditions, including potential hailstorms, across parts of Haryana over the next two days.
Weather Details and Impact on the Region
The winds in Gurgaon picked up pace around 6:30 PM, reaching speeds of 40 kmph, followed by steady rainfall that brought down temperatures. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 31.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 17.4 degrees Celsius, both within normal ranges for this time of year. Rainfall measurements till 5:30 PM included 2mm in Gurgaon, 1.9mm in Hisar, 4mm in Narnaul, and 0.5mm in Bhiwani.
This shift in weather is attributed to an active western disturbance affecting north India, with high moisture and temperature levels leading to the formation of convective clouds. According to IMD's Chandigarh centre, the region is likely to experience thunderstorm activity with wind speeds of 40–50 kmph, lightning, and hail at isolated places on March 19 and 20. Gurgaon and surrounding districts are under heightened alert, with unstable conditions expected to persist.
Flight Disruptions and Broader Weather Forecast
The adverse weather has caused significant travel disruptions. At least 22 flights scheduled to land at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport were diverted, and over 300 were delayed, as reported by FlightRadar24, a live tracking website. In Delhi, Palam recorded wind speeds of around 35 kmph in the evening, gusting up to approximately 50 kmph at 7 PM.
Independent weather forecaster Navdeep Dahiya highlighted in a tweet that the active western disturbance will impact north India on March 19 and 20, bringing moderate to heavy rain and thundershowers across Delhi-NCR, Haryana, and adjoining states. Temperatures are expected to drop significantly, with day temperatures likely ranging from 18 to 23 degrees Celsius. IMD forecasts indicate maximum temperatures between 23 and 26 degrees Celsius, and minimum temperatures from 14 to 18 degrees Celsius.
Safety Advisories and Alert Definitions
IMD defines a yellow alert as a watch situation, while an orange alert calls for preparedness due to a higher likelihood of impact. Officials have advised residents to stay indoors during thunderstorms, avoid open areas due to lightning risks, and secure loose objects as winds may intensify over the next 48 hours.
For Delhi, IMD's forecast predicts spells of very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong surface winds with gusts up to 50 kmph on March 19 and 20. Delhi's base station, Safdarjung, recorded a maximum temperature of 33.8 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, and a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, also two notches above normal. IMD stated that Delhi's maximum temperatures will likely be normal to below normal over the next seven days.
This weather event underscores the importance of staying informed and taking necessary precautions during such unstable conditions in the region.
