Thunderstorm cools Delhi, improves air quality and disrupts flights, 5 May 2026
A western disturbance‑triggered thunderstorm brought rain, strong winds and a temperature drop in Delhi on 5 May 2026, improving AQI to 88 while causing 24 flight diversions at IGI Airport.
A thunderstorm swept Delhi, lowering temperatures by seven degrees and dropping the AQI to 88. Strong winds forced the diversion of 24 flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Delhi, Thunderstorm, Air Quality Index, IGI Airport, Flight disruptions, IMIMet, Weather forecast, Pollution control, Western disturbance, Skymet
New Delhi, 5 May 2026: A thunderstorm spawned by a western disturbance moved across Delhi late on Sunday night, delivering strong winds, scattered rain and a noticeable fall in temperature.
Wind speeds peaked at about 70 kmph between 11:30 pm and 12:30 am, prompting the diversion of 24 flights from Indira Gandhi International Airport. The storm also caused the maximum temperature at Safdarjung, the city’s baseline station, to drop to 32.2 °C – roughly seven degrees below the normal level – offering relief after several hot days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issued a red alert for most parts of Delhi until 1:30 am, with an additional orange alert for southeast Delhi. Strong winds preceded brief rain showers that continued into the early morning.
IMD forecasts more rain late on Monday night and in the early hours of Tuesday, with possible thundery activity on Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to climb again towards the weekend.
Air quality saw a sharp improvement as the Air Quality Index (AQI) fell to 88, placing it in the “satisfactory” category. This is the cleanest reading for May in three years and among the best since 8 Oct 2022, when the AQI was 80. Just a day earlier the AQI had been 175, categorized as “moderate”.
Following the improvement, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted Stage 1 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which had been in force since 16 April. Stage 1 included preventive steps such as water sprinkling and anti‑pollution drives, but did not impose traffic or industrial curbs.
“The AQI of Delhi has shown significant improvement owing to rain and favourable meteorological conditions. Further, the forecast by IMD and IITM indicates that the AQI is likely to remain between ‘satisfactory’ and ‘moderate’ in the coming days,” CAQM stated.
Meteorologists attributed the sudden weather shift to a cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan moving south of Delhi. “As is typical of pre‑monsoon activity, rain is expected late at night or in the early hours, with sunshine returning by noon,” said Mahesh Palawat of Skymet.
According to IMD, the maximum temperature is projected to stay between 32 °C and 34 °C on Tuesday, rise to 35 °C‑37 °C on Wednesday, and approach 40 °C by Saturday as dry conditions return. The minimum temperature, which was 18.8 °C – six degrees below normal – is expected to range between 18 °C and 20 °C on Tuesday, climbing to 23 °C‑26 °C by the weekend.
