Delhi weather: Capital city witnesses strong winds on Wednesday morning as IMD issues snow alert for mountains

Delhi woke up to a windy morning on Wednesday as snow covered the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.

Strong surface winds with speeds of 20 to 30 kmph brought about a noticeable dip in temperature across Delhi-NCR—Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. Delhi's maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle around 26 and 13 degrees Celsius, respectively.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi-NCR witnessed mist and light fog in the morning as the predominant surface wind, likely from the northwest direction, blew at 12 to 14 kmph during the morning hours.

These winds are expected to gradually increase to 22 to 24 kmph in the afternoon.

Delhi's air quality remained in the 'moderate' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 148, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Snow in mountains cools Delhi temperatures

According to the Met Department, the recent snowfall in the mountains is subtly making its presence felt in the plains, bringing occasional light drizzle and chilly winds to Delhi and its surroundings.

Delhi weather is expected to be slightly cooler on March 5 than it was on March 4. The sun will be out during the day, but the weather will feel overcast.

The weather could change further on March 6, with a drop in temperature and stronger winds.

This sudden change in weather has been attributed to Delhi's proximity to Himachal and Uttarakhand which are experiencing snowfall and rain.

Orange alert for mountains

The weather department has issued an ‘Orange’ alert for heavy rain, snowfall, and thunderstorms in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu, and Kashmir.

Travellers and locals have been advised to exercise caution.

Hotter than normal March

IMD has predicted a hotter-than-usual March across India, with hot winds becoming prevalent, signalling the arrival of summer.

D Shivanand Pai, Senior Meteorologist at IMD, said the monthly maximum temperature in most parts of the country will be above normal, except in some far southern regions of peninsular India, where temperatures will remain slightly below normal.