Multiple showers were forecast in Delhi on Friday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a yellow alert, indicating possible disturbed weather, after the capital received more than half of a month’s rainfall in just 2.25 days this week.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of 55 (satisfactory) was recorded at 10:05 am on Friday, a day after Delhi had its cleanest air in nearly three years on Thursday. The 24-hour average air quality index was 48 (good) on Thursday, thanks to persistent rain. Delhi recorded its last “good” air day on September 10, 2023.
Mayur Vihar recorded maximum rainfall of 43 mm between 8:30 am (Thursday) and 8:30 am (Friday), followed by Lodhi Road (33.7 mm), Safdarjung (33.6 mm) and Ridge (25.9 mm). Pusa recorded 11.5 mm, Palam, Ayanagar, Javarpur, Chattarpur, Janakpuri, Narayana and Najafgarh between 1 mm to 4.5 mm of rainfall during the same period.
The IMD classifies rainfall up to 15.5 mm as light, between 15.6 mm and 64.4 mm as moderate, between 64.5 mm and 115.5 mm as heavy, and between 115.6 to 204.4 as very heavy. The city has recorded 137.72 mm rainfall so far in July. Rainfall exceeds half of normal for this month (209.7 mm).
Light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms is expected on Friday noon or afternoon, the IMD said. She added that rain is unlikely between Sunday and Thursday.
Heavy rains on Wednesday and Thursday killed at least four people in the Delhi national capital region and caused widespread waterlogging and traffic jams.
The decline in rainfall since then has been attributed to the monsoon trough moving away from Delhi. “The increase in rainfall is due to a pronounced low pressure area over central India that is moving upward, causing the monsoon trough to shift northwards. The rainfall is likely to decrease after this week, as the monsoon trough will move north of its normal location, into the foothills of Himachal Pradesh,” said Ashwari Tiwari, founder of independent meteorological organization IndiaMetSky.
The monsoon covered the entire country on Thursday. This is the most delayed full coverage since 2021 as torrential rains destroyed critical infrastructure, submerged roads and caused landslides across multiple states.
