Heat, dust storm, then rain: Decoding Delhi-NCR's 'erratic' weather in June, Pg4

Key Highlights:

• Delhi-NCR experienced a sudden shift from intense heat to cooler air and rain on Friday, following a powerful thunderstorm system.
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for the region, with wind gusts up to 76 kmph recorded at Palam.
• A fast-moving squall line originating over Punjab on Thursday evening caused the immediate weather change, bringing light to moderate rainfall and strong winds.
• Minimum temperatures across Delhi dropped by 7-8 degrees Celsius within 24 hours, with Safdarjung recording 22.8 degrees Celsius.
• The weather fluctuations occurred despite the confirmed emergence of El Niño, a climate phenomenon typically linked to weaker monsoons.

Detailed Insights:

• The sudden cooling was primarily due to a squall line, a continuous chain of intense thunderstorms extending over hundreds of kilometers.
• This system brought torrential rain, lightning, and straight-line winds, causing a significant dip in both minimum and maximum temperatures.
• Cloud cover, rainfall, and rain-cooled winds collectively contributed to the sharp temperature drop across the region.
• Delhi's pre-monsoon season often sees such erratic weather, with Western Disturbances interacting with moisture-laden winds and intense surface heating.
• The IMD warned of continued dust storms and thunderstorms with winds gusting up to 100 kmph across Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
• The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts a 63% chance of a very strong El Niño during November-January, potentially impacting Northwest India's weather in the coming months.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Squall Line: A fast-moving, continuous line of thunderstorms capable of producing intense but short-lived weather phenomena.
• Western Disturbances: Extratropical storms originating in the Mediterranean region that bring sudden winter rain to the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• El Niño: A climate pattern describing the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, influencing global weather patterns.