NEW DELHI: Heavy rain on Tuesday led to significant waterlogging and traffic across several parts of Delhi. The unexpected downpour also caused incidents of trees falling in various areas.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts medium to heavy rain for the next two days in Delhi and issued a yellow alert, indicating residents should be aware of potential weather changes. The Safdarjung base station, which represents the city’s overall weather conditions, recorded 30.8 mm of rain on Tuesday.
Looking ahead, the IMD predicts a generally cloudy sky with light rain on Wednesday, with no weather warnings issued for the day. Since the onset of the monsoon on June 28, Delhi has experienced its second intense spell of rain, with Safdarjung recording 41.2 mm of rainfall in July up to Tuesday evening. The first intense spell brought 228.1 mm of rain on June 28, marking the arrival of the monsoon with extremely heavy rainfall.
Waterlogging complaints poured in from multiple areas, including Preet Vihar, Hari Nagar, Uttam Nagar, Karol Bagh, GTB Nagar in Civil Line Zone, Karawal Nagar, Mandawali, Greater Kailash, Jamia Nagar, Chandni Chowk, Azad Market, and Raj Nagar in Najafgarh Zone. Fallen trees were reported in Kalkaji Extension and Mayur Vihar Phase II.
Despite the heavy rain, the maximum temperature at the Safdarjung base station was recorded at a relatively cool 33.2 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal, while the minimum temperature was 27.2 degrees Celsius, close to the average. The city’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 84, categorizing it as ‘satisfactory’.
The IMD has predicted a possibility of very light to light showers on Wednesday and an intense spell of light to moderate rain along with a thunderstorm or lightning on Thursday and Friday due to moisture supply from the Arabian Sea.
The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 34-35 degrees Celsius until Friday, while the minimum temperature is forecasted to stay between 25-27 degrees Celsius. Relative humidity levels will likely oscillate between 74% and 98% during this period.