On Thursday evening, Delhi experienced a dramatic temperature drop due to thunderstorms and strong winds, following a scorching day that peaked at 40.5°C. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that temperatures fell between 9°C to 19°C in various areas, with Ayanagar experiencing the steepest decline from 41°C to 22.7°C. The IMD upgraded the city's weather alert from yellow to orange as thunderstorm activity intensified, with rainfall amounts reaching 27.6mm in Ayanagar and 24.5mm in Mayur Vihar. Strong winds, with speeds up to 91kmph, accompanied the rain, contributing to the cooling effect. Despite the rainfall, Delhi's air quality deteriorated, with the Air Quality Index climbing to 164, categorized as moderate. The IMD forecasted further light rain and thunderstorms for Friday, with expectations of a gradual temperature rise starting Sunday, potentially reaching 40°C to 42°C by June 9.