From scorching 45°C heat to thunderstorms: Is Delhi headed for a dramatic weather turnaround? What travellers need to know

Delhi is experiencing one of the worst heat waves of the season, with the mercury levels slowly rising to near the threshold of 45°C, making traveling outside in the city tiring for both the tourists and locals. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Tuesday saw the highest level of mercury being observed in Safdarjung (43.5°C), Ayanagar (44.8°C), and Ridge (44.6°C).

The heat wave has started to show its impacts on the daytime activities in the city as well, particularly at areas that receive significant footfall during the vacation period. Locations like India Gate, Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and the busy alleys of Chandni Chowk are feeling the brunt of this scorching weather in Delhi.



As per the weather bulletin released by the IMD for Delhi, it is said that heat wave like conditions would prevail for at least one more day. According to the forecast, the temperature in Delhi would rise to 44-46 degrees Celsius on May 27, along with a high-speed surface wind blowing at 20-30 kmph.

The heat wave and dry winds would create discomfort for travellers visiting Delhi in summers for their holidays or business purposes or transit stopovers.

While the capital is suffering from heat waves, there is going to be an important shift in weather during the later part of the week. IMD has predicted a fall in temperatures in view of the arrival of a new western disturbance affecting northwest India from May 28 onwards.

Partly cloudy sky with thundershowers and lightning with light rainfall and gusty wind blowing at 40-50 kmph with gusts up to 60 kmph is expected to prevail in Delhi from evening of May 28.

The greatest relief can be expected from the temperature. After having remained close to 45 degrees, the maximum daytime temperature is predicted to drop drastically to about 35-37 degrees in Delhi on May 29th and then again to 34-36 degrees on May 30. The favourable weather would help people have an easy time sightseeing and commuting around Delhi in the evening, particularly for those wanting to see around Delhi's various monuments, markets, museums, and open-air venues.

This change in weather in the national capital is one of many that is expected across the country at the moment. According to IMD, a heatwave or severe heatwave is likely over northwest and central India during the next 3-4 days affecting states such as Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Vidarbha.

Simultaneously, many tourism spots are predicted to experience rains and thunderstorms. According to weather predictions, the northeastern states, which include Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, are anticipated to experience rainfalls throughout the next few days. The other places like Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal are also predicted to have rains with gusty winds and lightning.

It should also be noted that thundersqualls with strong winds of 80 kmph can be expected to hit parts of northern India, including areas surrounding Delhi, from May 28 till May 30.

In conclusion, the next few days will be quite contrasting for visitors to Delhi, who will initially experience the unbearable heat wave in north India and then transition to the pre-monsoon season with storms.