Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms Lash Delhi-NCR, IMD Issues Red Alert

Heavy rain and thunderstorms swept across Delhi early Monday, making it the capital's wettest October day in four years and bringing down the minimum temperature to 18.7 degrees Celsius, the lowest recorded so far this month, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The Safdarjung observatory, which provides representative weather data for Delhi, recorded 41.6 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am. The last time the city received more rain in October was on October 9, 2022, when Safdarjung recorded around 74 mm.

The Ridge received the highest rainfall among Delhi's five weather stations at 49 mm, followed by Safdarjung at 41.6 mm, Lodhi Road at 41.4 mm, Ayanagar at 39 mm and Palam at 31 mm.

The minimum temperature at Safdarjung was 2.3 degrees below normal. Palam recorded 17 degrees Celsius, 4.5 degrees below normal, while Lodhi Road registered 18.7 degrees, the Ridge 20 degrees and Ayanagar 18.5 degrees.

The downpour brought relief from warmer conditions but caused waterlogging and traffic disruptions in several localities, including Sainik Farm in south Delhi and Mahipalpur. The Delhi Traffic Police diverted traffic on both carriageways of Ansari Road, between Dharampura and Iron Bridge, due to water accumulation.

Heavy showers also lashed R K Puram, Kartavya Path and parts of central, southeast and west Delhi.

The IMD had issued a yellow warning for all 13 districts, forecasting thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds of around 40 kmph and light to moderate rain until 9.55 am. Generally cloudy skies with further rain were forecast for the remainder of Monday.

Meanwhile, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 88, in the satisfactory category, at 8 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

The maximum temperatures recorded across the city's weather stations on Sunday ranged between 30.5 and 32 degrees Celsius, remaining below normal.