Tauktae’s impact on Capital: Cloudy, chance of heavy rain
NEW DELHI: Parts of north India, including the National Capital Region (NCR), witnessed overcast skies and received light rain on Tuesday under the impact of Cyclone Tauktae, which made landfall in Gujarat on Monday night, and after weakening considerably, is currently moving inwards towards Delhi.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientists said Delhi is also likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on Wednesday. An advisory issued by IMD said Tauktae and its remnants would interact with a western disturbance trough, creating an interaction zone. This weather phenomenon is likely to form above Delhi and adjoining areas, resulting in heavy rainfall in the region.
“In addition, high moisture feeding from the Arabian Sea is also likely over north-west India, which would result in heavy to very heavy rainfall over Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, west and east Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and north Rajasthan on Wednesday,” the advisory said.
A senior IMD scientist said rain was likely to begin in parts of Delhi from Tuesday night. IMD has issued an orange alert over Delhi and NCR for Wednesday. An orange warning means authorities must “be prepared” for heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Cyclone Tauktae (pronounced Tau’te) intensified into an “extremely severe cyclonic storm” and made landfall on Gujarat coast late Monday with wind speeds between 150kmph and 160kmph.
A tropical cyclone is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans and is characterised by low atmospheric pressure, strong winds and heavy rainfall.
The IMD forecast said that while the rainfall activity in and around the national capital on Wednesday is likely to be intense, on Thursday, there is only a possibility of drizzle in some parts.
Met officials said residents should brace for water logging and flooding, and minor damage to roads and vulnerable structures, as a result of the heavy rain.