Parts of Delhi get rain, IMD predicts more showers

Parts of Delhi saw a fresh spell of rain on Wednesday with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a new forecast stating that parts of Delhi are expected to experience light to moderate downpour today, with intermittent rains predicted over the next four to five days. This announcement comes after the city recently witnessed its highest rainfall in a single day for the month of July since 1982.

On Wednesday, Delhi’s primary weather station, the Safdarjung Observatory, recorded a minimum temperature of 26.6 degrees Celsius, slightly below the normal range. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature is anticipated to reach around 34 degrees Celsius.

The recent surge in rainfall can be attributed to the convergence of various weather phenomena. The city received an unprecedented 153 mm of rainfall in a 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Sunday, owing to the interaction of a western disturbance, monsoonal winds, and cyclonic circulation over northwest India. Within the following 24 hours, an additional 107 mm of rain was recorded.

This deluge resulted in a total of 260 mm of rainfall over a span of 36 hours, surpassing July’s average rainfall quota of 195.8 mm by more than 30 percent. Consequently, the government issued a flood warning and temporarily closed schools as a precautionary measure.

The heavy downpour wreaked havoc across the city, transforming roads into rushing streams, parks into waterlogged labyrinths, and marketplaces into submerged areas. As a result, authorities and residents are grappling with the challenges posed by the relentless rainfall.

Since the beginning of July, the Safdarjung Observatory has recorded a staggering 306.6 mm of rainfall, far exceeding the normal average of 69.8 mm for this month. These extraordinary precipitation levels have raised concerns about flooding and its potential impact on the city’s infrastructure and daily life. (With inputs from PTI)