Rain lashes Delhi, IMD warns of thunderstorms

Rain lashed several parts of Delhi on Monday, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting light to moderate rain till August 16.

Mayur Vihar recorded the highest rainfall at 37 millimetres (mm), followed by Mungeshpur at 21 mm, Pusa at 4 mm and Narayana at 3 mm till 4.15 pm.

The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places, with the wet spell expected to continue. “Intense rain hits parts of North and Northwest Delhi,” they said.

“Lightning or thunderstorms with gusty winds (around 60 kmph) and heavy rain can be expected in the next few hours in isolated areas,” IMD said.

According to the weather office, the city can expect light to moderate rain till August 16. Delhi already crossed its average monthly rainfall for August on Saturday in the first eight days of the month, with the Safdarjung Observatory recording 230.1 mm of rain so far.

The city’s primary weather station recorded 225.7 mm of rainfall between the beginning of August and 8.30 am on Saturday, followed by another 4.4 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm.

According to the IMD, the mean total rainfall for August in Delhi, based on the 1991-2020 climatological period, is 226.8 mm. The cumulative rainfall so far is therefore 3.3 mm above the month’s average.