Delhi issues ‘strong protest’ after US fire kills three Indian seafarers in Gulf The Guardian
2 min readNew DelhiJun 13, 2026 01:50 AM IST
According to IMD scientists, the recent spells are a result of "strong convective activity" fuelled by abundant moisture, intense daytime heating and the interaction of multiple weather systems moving across Northwest India.
Delhi-NCR was placed under a red alert late Friday, as a powerful thunderstorm system swept across North India, bringing strong winds, lightning, dust storms and widespread rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that dust storms and thunderstorms accompanied by moderate to heavy rainfall and lightning are very likely across the entire Delhi-NCR, with winds of 60-80 kmph gusting up to 100 kmph.The warning, issued shortly after 11 pm, covered Delhi and adjoining districts of Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan. According to IMD, Palam in Delhi, as of midnight, recorded gusts of 76 kmph, followed by Narayana and Pragati Maidan (52 kmph), Safdarjung (44 kmph), Jafarpur (43 kmph) and Janakpuri (31 kmph). The Capital had on Tuesday recorded the highest wind speed – 120 kmph – in 21 years. The storm system has extended to Uttar Pradesh – districts like Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Meerut, Baghpat, Hapur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras and Agra were placed under severe thunderstorm warnings. A district-level nowcast issued by IMD’s Meteorological Centre in Lucknow forecast severe thunderstorms with winds of 70-80 kmph gusting to 100 kmph, accompanied by lightning and moderate to intense spells of rain over parts of Agra, Hathras, Mathura, Aligarh, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Hapur, Ghaziabad and Baghpat.Story continues below this ad The IMD advised residents to remain indoors, avoid sheltering under trees, stay away from electric poles and unsecured structures, and avoid unnecessary travel during the storm. The latest storm comes amid an unusually active pre-monsoon season marked by repeated episodes of intense heat, dust storms, thunderstorms and sharp temperature fluctuations across Northwestern India. According to IMD scientists, the recent spells are a result of “strong convective activity” fuelled by abundant moisture, intense daytime heating and the interaction of multiple weather systems moving across Northwest India. Thunderstorms during this pre-monsoon period are not uncommon, but the combination of widespread coverage and winds approaching 100 kmph significantly increases the risk of falling trees, damage to temporary structures, power disruptions and traffic disruptions.Story continues below this ad The thunderstorm activity comes just a day after Delhi witnessed a dramatic fall in temperatures following a squall line that travelled from Punjab through Haryana into the National Capital Region. That event brought rainfall and cooler conditions, ending a prolonged spell of scorching heat.
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Sophiya Mathew is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She joined the Delhi bureau in 2024, and has specialization in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.
Professional Background
Core Beats: Her reporting is primarily focused on the Environment and Education.
Specialization: She has gained recognition for her ground-level reporting on the Yamuna floodplains and the socio-economic challenges faced by those living on its banks. She also focuses on the disparities in Delhi's education system, ranging from elite private schools to government institutions and refugee education.
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Her recent work has been heavily centered on Delhi's severe winter pollution crisis and the government's regulatory responses:
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2 min readNew DelhiJun 12, 2026 04:57 PM IST
The minimum temperatures will range from 22.8°C on June 12, gradually rising to 26-28°C by June 17 and 18, as per the data. (Image credit- Canva)
Dark grey clouds, light rain, and a pleasant breeze greeted the people of Delhi as they stepped out for work and school on Friday morning after days of a hot spell. The weather office had issued a yellow warning for Delhi and nearby cities this morning. They said there would be thunder, lightning, and some rain today, and that it would last for the next week. IMD Forecast The IMD forecasts that the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy the entire day. A spell of very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds between 40 and 60 kmph is likely toward the late morning. Another similar spell of very light to light rain with thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds of the same intensity is expected to return toward the afternoon or evening.
Spells of light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning are forecast for June 12 and 13. From June 14 onward, skies are expected to remain partly cloudy, with only the possibility of thundery development on June 14 and June 16. The 17th and 18th will have a partly cloudy sky.
Minimum temperatures will range from 22.8°C on June 12, gradually rising to 26-28°C by June 17 and 18. Weather Change The expected cause of the sudden weather change in Delhi on Friday is the chain of intense thunderstorms that formed over Punjab on Thursday evening and gradually moved eastward through Haryana and into Delhi-NCR through the night.The system brought light to moderate rainfall across large parts of Punjab and Haryana, accompanied by strong winds. The gusts were particularly fierce in Sangrur, where wind speeds reached as high as 111 kmph. (Written by Paramita Datta, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
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Delhi issues ‘strong protest’ after US fire kills three Indian seafarers in Gulf The Guardian
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