Dust storm hits flight operations in Delhi

NEW DELHI: The dust storm in the national Capital on Monday hit flight operations for almost an hour, delaying several flights. Some parts of Delhi also received

NEW DELHI: The dust storm in the national Capital on Monday hit flight operations for almost an hour, delaying several flights. Some parts of Delhi also received rain, bringing some respite from the heat. This was the fourth time flight operations were hit due to bad weather since last month. Similar weather conditions were recorded on May 16, 23 and 29.

HT Image

The dust storm also brought down the temperature from 41.8 to 33 degrees Celsius.

“The IGIA was hit by strong winds of 55kmph to 75kmph between 7:10pm and 8pm which hit flight operations,” said RK Jenamani, director, IGIA Met.

The maximum temperature at Safdarjung observatory was 40.7 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal. The minimum temperature settled at 29.5 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal. At Palam, the temperature was a little higher at 41.8 degrees Celsius.

Monday was also very humid with humidity wavering between a high and low of 65% and 37%.

Tuesday is expected to be cooler with maximum and minimum temperature forecast of 38 and 26 degrees Celsius respectively.

“The skies will be partly cloudy with possibility of rain and thundershowers in the evening,” said an IMD official.

There is forecast of light rain on Thursday and Friday, which is also likely to lower the temperature.

It’s been a cruel summer for Delhi — and the rest of north India — with the Met last month issuing a red alert amid warnings of an intense heatwave.