IndiGo warns of Delhi flight delays amid thunderstorms, issues key advisory

IndiGo on Monday issued a travel advisory for Delhi airport passengers, warning that thundershowers could impact flight operations.

"With thunderstorms expected to pass over Delhi, departures and arrivals may be impacted. While our teams are preparing well in advance to keep things running smoothly, the weather may slow things down a touch," said the low-cost airline in a post on social media platform X.

"If you're travelling today, we recommend checking your flight status on our website or app before heading out through https://bit.ly/4bCoWYk. Please also allow for some extra travel time as road traffic may also be affected."

A yellow alert has been issued for the national capital for rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds from Monday to Thursday. This comes as the city faces an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring to a maximum of 42.3 degrees Celsius.

The yellow alert, which signifies "be updated," indicates that light to moderate rain and thunderstorms, with wind speeds reaching up to 50 km/h, are anticipated in the area.

For Tuesday, the weather office predicts a minimum temperature of around 28 degrees Celsius and a maximum of about 42 degrees Celsius. Thunderstorms and rain are expected, providing some relief from the oppressive heat. Dust storms, thunderstorms, and rain are likely from Tuesday through April 30, with a yellow alert specifically issued for April 29.

"There is a cyclonic circulation over adjoining central Pakistan, northwest Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana. It is currently strong and moving towards north-east India. Parts of Rajasthan and Haryana may receive rainfall tonight, and the system is expected to reach Delhi on Tuesday and persist till April 30," Mahesh Palawat of Skymet said.

He added that high winds are anticipated as the circulation moves from Rajasthan, potentially triggering dust storms alongside moderate rainfall and thunderstorms, which can be classified as pre-monsoon rainfall.

On the temperature front, Safdarjung, the city’s base station, recorded the maximum temperature at 42.3 degrees Celsius, 3.3 degrees above normal, making it the second-hottest day of the month.