Delhi Weather Skymet: 59 kmph Thundersquall Hits Capital, Dry Spell Likely From 18–23 September

Key Takeaways:

• Palam recorded a 59 kmph thundersquall at 04:22 IST on 17 September, while Safdarjung recorded 46 kmph winds.
• Delhi has one final isolated chance of very light rain, thunder or lightning during Thursday afternoon or evening.
• No rain is forecast over Delhi from 18–23 September, with skies becoming mainly clear from 21 September.
• Increasing northwesterly winds and sustained dryness will become important as the monsoon withdrawal phase approaches northwest India.
• Forecast Validity: Next one week.

Delhi experienced a sudden early-morning thundersquall on 17 September despite receiving little measurable rain. Palam recorded winds reaching 59 kmph at 04:22 IST, while Safdarjung reported 46 kmph two minutes later.

The gusty episode developed shortly before the capital begins a forecast dry phase, illustrating how local thunderstorms can occur even while the broader monsoon pattern is weakening.

Overnight Storm Produces Strong Gusts

Safdarjung recorded no rainfall during the 24 hours ending 08:30 IST, while Ghaziabad reported 1 mm, and the other listed Delhi-NCR stations were largely dry.

Satellite imagery from 05:30 IST showed moderate to intense convection across parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and northern Uttar Pradesh. Multilayered clouds associated with a western disturbance were also present over a large section of northern India.

A thundersquall occurs when descending cold air from a thunderstorm spreads rapidly at the surface. This outflow can produce a sharp increase in wind speed even when rainfall at a particular gauge is negligible.

An upper-air circulation over northern Haryana and the broader western-disturbance cloud belt provided conditions favourable for isolated thunderstorm development.

One Last Small Rain Chance

Delhi may receive a spell of very light rain with thunder or lightning at isolated places during Thursday afternoon or evening. Most of the region should otherwise remain partly cloudy.

No rain is forecast from 18–23 September. Skies should remain partly cloudy initially and become mainly clear from 21 September.

Northwesterly winds are expected to dominate during much of the period. They will help reduce atmospheric moisture, although humidity may not fall immediately after Thursday’s thunderstorm activity.

Safdarjung reached 36.8°C on 16 September, three degrees above normal. Faridabad also recorded 36.8°C, while Ghaziabad reached 36.7°C. Warm afternoons may therefore continue even as nights become more comfortable.

Travel and Withdrawal Implications

Sudden gusts can bring down weak branches, displace unsecured objects and briefly affect road and aviation operations. The strongest Palam observation was especially relevant to airport activity, although no specific disruption was confirmed in the sources reviewed.

The subsequent dry spell may become favourable for monsoon withdrawal from parts of West Rajasthan around 19 September.

This does not mean withdrawal will simultaneously reach Delhi. Sustained dryness, reduced moisture and an appropriate lower-level wind pattern must first be confirmed.

For Delhi-NCR, the main message is a sharp transition: an early-morning thundersquall and a final isolated rain chance on Thursday, followed by several dry days under increasingly northwesterly winds.