A surprise weather change swept Delhi and surrounding areas on Friday evening when strong winds created a dust storm, hitting portions of Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh too. The dust storm, which should last until 9 PM, comes after an extended heatwave saw Delhi’s temperatures reach 40°C for the season’s first time.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) put out an alert for possible damage to crops and flimsy structures from high-speed winds. Issuing a word of caution, the weather office stated, “Do not take shelter under trees, do not lie on concrete floors and lean against concrete walls. Unplug electrical appliances. Get out of water bodies immediately.”
Dust Storm: Tree Falls and Road Traffic Disruptions Reported
Heavy winds caused multiple instances of tree branches breaking in various parts of the capital, such as the Lodhi Garden. A tree crashed onto a parked motorbike in the area of Delhi Gate. Footage from various parts of Delhi revealed great trees bending due to pressure from the winds and thick clouds of dust enveloping roads and buildings.
Delhi NCR is under a heavy dust storm! Visuals from Gurgaon — very intense dust storm hits Gurugram. Stay safe everyone! pic.twitter.com/IqGVen4kLb
— The Curious Quill (@PleasingRj) April 11, 2025
Scenes of dust and debris shrouding cars and obscuring buildings partially were also caught on video, reflecting the ferocity of the storm.
Respite from heat
The dust storm and winds followed a drizzle in Delhi earlier in the day, which brought the record-breaking temperatures down. This provided much-needed relief from the heatwave that had held the region in its grip for the entire week.
On Monday, the capital logged a high temperature of 40°C for the first time in the season and thus began witnessing heatwave-like conditions. Conditions continued for three consecutive days. Wednesday witnessed the city’s longest night in the past three years, with the minimum temperature staying above 25.9°C.
Though the dust storm interfered with evening routines, most residents greeted the change in weather, hoping for additional rains to cool down the area even more in the days ahead.
