Delhi-NCR Dust Storm Explained
A strong dust storm swept across Delhi-NCR on Saturday, bringing thunder, lightning and rain after the weather department warned of winds reaching 50 to 70 kmph.
Delhi-NCR Dust Storm And Aandhi
The dust storm, locally known as aandhi, is a common pre-monsoon weather event in northwest India. It usually occurs during late May when extreme summer heat makes the ground hot and the lower atmosphere unstable.
This instability helps storm clouds develop quickly. Loose and dry soil from Rajasthan and the Thar Desert adds dust to the system, allowing strong winds to lift sand and soil into the air.
How Dust Storms Turn Into Thunderstorms
A dust storm can intensify when cool air inside a storm cloud rushes downward. When this air hits the ground, it spreads outward as a strong gust front.
This sudden wind movement lifts dust and pushes it forward like a moving wall. The same storm system can then produce rain, thunder and lightning, turning a dust storm into a full thunderstorm.
Why Delhi Saw Lightning And Rain
Lightning forms when ice crystals and water droplets inside tall clouds collide and create electrical charges. Once the charge difference becomes too strong, it is released as lightning, followed by thunder.
Satellite images help forecasters track such systems by showing moisture, dry air and storm clouds in the atmosphere. The storm also brought some relief from heat, with Delhi’s maximum temperature reported around 36 to 38 degrees Celsius.
