⁠As Thunderstorms Hammer Mumbai, Delhi And Other Cities, IMD Explains How It Detects Thunder Clouds

Over the past few days, violent thunderstorms and heavy rainfall have swept across Delhi and Mumbai, causing widespread disruption and sparking concern among residents and authorities alike. From waterlogged roads and traffic snarls to power cuts and damaged vehicles, the turbulent weather has made its presence felt in no uncertain terms.

In Delhi, torrential downpours on May 21 led to flight delays, metro service interruptions and gridlocked streets. Many parts of the city reported fallen trees and long power outages, leaving citizens grappling with the after-effects of the storm well into the next day.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), while the thunderstorm activity has eased, the capital is likely to experience a warm night with partly cloudy skies and the possibility of "thundery development towards evening or night."

Mumbai, too, has been dealing with heavy rain and thunderstorms since May 20 night. The weather bureau has issued a yellow alert for the city, forecasting thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, heavy showers and strong winds reaching speeds of 50 to 60 kmph at isolated locations. Several districts in Maharashtra are likely to continue experiencing intense rainfall and strong winds until at least May 24.

Amid the chaos caused by these sudden weather changes, the IMD released an informative video to help the public understand how thunderstorms are detected and what makes them so intense.

IMD explained in the video that thunderstorms can be detected visually and with the help of weather radars, satellites and lightning sensors. The video then went on to describe the anatomy of a thundercloud, stating that while the base of the cloud is usually around one km or lower from the ground, the top can extend upwards of 10 to 15 km or even higher. This vertical build-up is what allows thunderstorms to pack such a punch, often bringing with them severe lightning, downpours and strong winds.

Watch the video here:

As storms rolled across urban skylines, social media platforms lit up with dramatic footage and photos.

In Mumbai, residents captured intense lightning flashes illuminating the city’s skyline at night and heavy rain pounding already drenched streets.

Here are a few visuals from Mumbai shared by netizens:

Delhi and the surrounding NCR region were no different, with striking visuals shared by residents showing the intensity of the storm. From lightning streaking through the night sky to residents holding hailstones, the images captured the storm’s intensity and disruption.

The IMD, in its 8.45 a.m. bulletin on May 22, has said that conditions are becoming increasingly favourable for the onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala within the next two to three days.

The monsoon is likely to advance further into more parts of the south Arabian Sea, as well as parts of the Lakshadweep Islands, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, the north, south and central Bay of Bengal and parts of the Northeastern states over the same period.