Yellow alert in Delhi; rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds likely tonight

Delhi experienced warm conditions on Friday, with the maximum temperature reaching 39.1 degrees Celsius, slightly above the seasonal average. Despite the heat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a yellow alert, anticipating thunderstorms, lightning, light rain, and gusty winds throughout the night.

The city began the day under partly cloudy skies, with the minimum temperature recorded at 27 degrees Celsius. Commuters were seen using umbrellas and covering their heads to shield themselves from the intense sun, even with relatively moderate temperatures.

Station-specific data indicated that the Ridge area recorded the highest maximum temperature in the Delhi-NCR region at 40 degrees Celsius. Other areas like Palam and Ayanagar also registered high temperatures, slightly above normal. Minimum temperatures across Delhi varied, with some isolated places experiencing temperatures significantly below normal.

The IMD predicts that similar weather patterns, including thunderstorms and rainfall, will persist in parts of the national capital on Sunday. Southwesterly winds with speeds of 10-15 kmph were observed during the day, with gusts reaching up to 46 kmph in Palam. Delhi's air quality remained in the 'moderate' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 143.