Heavy rain lashed several parts of Delhi-NCR on Tuesday morning, bringing much-needed relief from the recent spell of heat and humidity.
The showers, accompanied by cloudy skies and gusty winds, affected normal life in several areas, with waterlogging and slow-moving traffic reported on key roads. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for parts of Delhi, warning of moderate to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds. The alert covers North, Central, East, West, North-West, North-East Delhi and Shahdara, where intense rain is expected at isolated places.
According to the IMD, the wet spell is likely to continue over the next 48 hours, with intermittent rain expected across Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. The weather department has advised residents to remain cautious during thunderstorms, avoid waterlogged areas and expect traffic disruptions during peak hours.
Delhi’s base weather station at Safdarjung recorded 32.4 mm of rainfall till 8:30 am. Other stations also received significant rainfall, with Ridge recording 37.6 mm, Lodhi Road 36.7 mm, Ayanagar 4 mm and Palam 0.8 mm.
The rainfall has led to a noticeable drop in temperatures. Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 25.5 degrees Celsius, which was 1.8 degrees below normal. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain around 32-34 degrees Celsius, making conditions much more comfortable than in recent days.
The IMD has forecast that the monsoon will remain active over northwest India, keeping skies mostly cloudy and bringing frequent spells of rain through Wednesday. Thunderstorms with lightning and gusty winds are also likely during this period.
Humidity made Monday uncomfortable
Even though a few areas witnessed brief spells of rain on Monday, the weather remained hot and sticky. The heat index touched 49 degree celsius, making it feel much hotter than the actual temperature because of the high humidity. By around 5.30 pm, the heat index was still close to 48 degree celsius.
The maximum temperature settled at 38.1 degree celsius, around 3.2 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature was 28.6 degree celsius, about 1.3 degrees above normal. Humidity levels stayed very high, ranging between 76 per cent and 100 per cent, adding to the discomfort.
Today’s Weather Forecast
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Tuesday and Wednesday will remain cloudy, with light rain expected at many places and moderate showers likely in some areas. A Yellow Alert has been issued for both days, warning of rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds. The spell of rain is likely to continue on Thursday as well, although the IMD has not issued any weather alert for that day.
The increased rainfall is expected to bring down daytime temperatures by 5-6 degrees Celsius, making the weather much more pleasant across the city.
Today, the maximum temperature is expected to remain around 33 degrees celsius, while the minimum may be close to 24-25 degrees celsius. Cloudy skies are likely throughout the day, with intermittent spells of light to moderate rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds expected across Delhi, Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad.
Similar weather conditions are expected, with cloudy skies, light to moderate rainfall and a further dip in daytime temperatures.
Delhi Airport issues weather advisory as rain continues across NCR
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport has issued a travel advisory after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast rain and adverse weather conditions in and around the national capital.
Airport authorities said flight operations are currently running as scheduled, despite the ongoing rainfall. However, they added that teams on the ground are closely coordinating with airlines and other agencies to minimise any weather-related disruptions and ensure smooth airport operations.
Passengers have been advised to check the latest flight status with their respective airlines before leaving for the airport, as changing weather conditions could lead to delays or schedule changes later in the day. Rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue across Delhi and the NCR, according to the IMD.