Hailstorm with heavy rainfall lashed Delhi-NCR on Thursday evening leaving several areas covered in an icy blanket. While Delhiites rushed out to grab a fistful of ice and update their social media profiles in excitement, the hailstorm caused traffic jams and disrupted air and rail movement.

There were also strong winds gusting to over 25 km/hour at some places in the evening.

Thirty-two flights were diverted at the IGI Airport, including 23 domestic flights and nine international ones. Operations by smaller planes such as ATR were put on hold for sometime due to the strong winds, said an official from the Delhi airport.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation reported only one fallen tree at Turkman Gate.

It was an overcast day with the maximum temperature settling at 19.1 degrees Celsius which was four degrees below the average for the season and the minimum settled at 15 degrees Celsius which was six degrees warmer than normal for this time of the season.

The Safdarjung observatory, the official weather station of the Capital recorded 3.2 mm of rainfall till 5.30 p.m. and stations at Palam. Lodhi Road and Gurugram recorded 3.2 mm 3.8 mm, and 3 mm respectively.

The wet weather is not likely to continue with the MeT department forecasting moderate fog in the morning with clear sky after.

Maximum and minimum temperatures will hover around 19 and 10 degrees Celsius respectively.