Delhi: Sound of thunder is music to ears

NEW DELHI: Rain accompanied by thunderstorm lashed most parts of the city on Friday evening, bringing relief to people from scorching temperature.
Till 8.30am, Safdarjung recorded 5.2mm rainfall, Palam 3.4mm, Lodhi Road 4.8mm and Aya Nagar 1.3mm rain. Till 5.30pm, Palam and Lodhi Road recorded traces of rainfall, while Aya Nagar saw 2mm rain.
Till 8.30pm, Safdarjung recorded 3.5mm rain, while Palam saw 3.1mm.Parts of Noida also recorded rainfall.
"Dust storm or thunderstorm and light rain accompanied with squally wind of 60km/ hour, occurred over Delhi and its neighbouring regions in the evening under the influence of western disturbance affecting northwest India, and easterly winds in the lower levels from UP," a Met official said.
The maximum temperature at Safdarjung on Friday was 37 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, while the minimum was 22.6 degrees, four notches below normal. Palam recorded a maximum temperature of 37.6 degrees, while Lodhi Road and Aya Nagar saw 35.3 degrees and 36.7 degrees, respectively.
On Thursday, partly cloudy sky during the day and light rain in the evening brought some relief from the prevalent heatwave conditions. India Meteorological Department on Friday said no heatwave condition is likely to develop over any parts of the country from May 30 to June 2.
On Saturday, generally cloudy sky is expected with dust or thunderstorm, light rain accompanied with squall. The maximum and minimum temperatures will be 35 and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively. At 101, the air quality on Friday was in the moderate range, said CPCB.
System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research said rainfall associated with western disturbance and east-west trough has contributed to the improvement in the air quality.
"Fairly widespread rainfall is expected in the next two days, and Delhi's AQI is likely to improve to the lower end of moderate to satisfactory category," it said.