Continuous rainfall across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) over the past few days has resulted in the capital exceeding both its annual and seasonal average rainfall for September. According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi surpassed the 1,000mm rainfall mark this month—the highest since 2021 and the second-highest in at least a decade. The IMD has also forecast more heavy rainfall throughout Sunday.
Here are the latest updates on the rain situation in Delhi-NCR:
Delhi has experienced multiple bouts of rain this month, particularly since Wednesday night, leading to waterlogging and traffic disruptions. On Friday, Palam recorded 54mm of rainfall, while Safdarjung, the primary weather station, registered 30.9mm in just three hours (from 2.30 to 5.30 pm), according to PTI. Meanwhile, Gurugram saw 18mm of rainfall between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm, with an additional 4mm in the preceding 24 hours.
Experts note that Delhi usually receives around 650mm of rain during the monsoon season, but this year, it has exceeded 1,000mm. The city has also surpassed its average September rainfall, with 125.8mm recorded so far—55% higher than usual.
The continuous downpour has led to the cleanest air of the year in Delhi, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to 52, the lowest recorded this season. Last year, the AQI was at 45 on September 10, 2023, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
On Friday, the maximum temperature in Delhi fell to 27.6 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal. The IMD predicts the minimum temperature on Saturday will be around 21 degrees Celsius, with a maximum of 32 degrees Celsius. An ‘orange’ alert has been issued for Sunday, warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning in the city.
The rainfall has caused significant waterlogging, underpass closures, traffic jams, and reduced visibility in parts of Delhi-NCR. One flight was diverted from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport due to bad weather, though overall flight operations remained unaffected.
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The IMD has advised people to check traffic conditions before leaving for their destinations, follow any issued traffic advisories, and avoid staying in vulnerable structures.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall in Gurugram on Friday caused waterlogging and traffic jams at multiple locations, including Hero Honda Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, and IFFCO Chowk. Traffic was backed up for about three kilometres on both the main and service lanes of the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway heading toward Delhi. According to a senior traffic police officer, vehicle movement was heavily impacted near Sirhaul border, Rajiv Chowk, and Narsinghpur. Subways for non-motorized transport (NMT) and pedestrians were also closed due to the rain.