The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for thunderstorm accompanied by lightning and gusty winds in Delhi on Wednesday. It has predicted moderate rainfall and thundersqualls with wind speeds reaching 50 to 60 kmph, especially in the night.Delhi's minimum temperature was recorded at 28 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees above the normal, according to the weather department. The maximum temperature for the day is expected to settle at 36 degrees Celsius, the IMD said.

The IMD predicted thunderstorms accompanied with lightning, moderate to heavy rainfall, and gusty winds with the speed between 40 to 50 kilometres per hour during night.

The air quality was recorded in the 'satisfactory' category as the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am stood at 80. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. PTI

Residents have been urged to remain indoors and avoid non-essential travel. Further, The IMD advised unplugging electrical appliances during storms to guard against lightning-induced damage.

14 flights diverted, 400 delayed as rains hit Delhi

Pre-monsoon showers brought relief from intense heat on Tuesday. However, it also caused waterlogging and traffic congestion in several parts of the city.

Between 3 pm and 4 pm, 14 flights were diverted from Delhi airport due to adverse weather conditions, according to PTI. Six were rerouted to Bhopal, three to Chandigarh, two to Amritsar, and one each to Ahmedabad, Varanasi, and Lucknow.

Data from Flightradar24.com indicated that over 400 flights were delayed, and some cancellations were reported.

Heavy rain led to waterlogging in areas such as the Delhi Cantonment underpass, Zakhira Underpass, Pul Prahladpur, ITO, and stretches of Delhi Najafgarh Road and Rohtak Road, severely affecting vehicular movement.

According to IMD data, rainfall recorded at various weather stations included 10 mm at Safdarjung, 5 mm at Lodhi Road, 41 mm at Pusa, 15 mm at Narayana, and 23 mm at Ayanagar.

The maximum temperature in the national capital settled at 36.2 degrees Celsius, 3.8 notches below the seasonal average, while the minimum stood at 28 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees above normal.

Meanwhile, the city’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Tuesday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) was measured at 104 at 4 pm.

As per CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.