Delhi and its surrounding areas have been hit with heavy rainfall since Thursday morning, causing waterlogging on roads and power outages in various localities. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a three-day alert, warning that the rains are likely to continue through the weekend. According to the IMD, “the monsoon trough has come near Delhi,” which means the rain will persist not just today but also on Friday and Saturday. Skymet, a private weather forecasting service, has indicated that the intensity of rain in Delhi-NCR will increase on September 12 and 13. A low-pressure system over North Madhya Pradesh, combined with an east-west trough merged with the seasonal monsoon trough, is driving the current weather conditions. This trough is passing close to Delhi, making heavy rains inevitable. Skymet also predicts strong thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds during this period.
The IMD has added that rain will likely continue at the end of the weekend, with more showers expected on September 14 and 15. However, as the weather system begins to shift toward Uttar Pradesh, rainfall intensity will decrease over the weekend, with only light showers predicted for Sunday. As of now, Delhi has recorded 913.1 mm of rain during this monsoon season, surpassing the usual rainfall for this time of year. September has already seen 80 mm of rain, and the average rainfall for the month stands at 123 mm. With heavy rains predicted over the next few days, it is expected that the city’s rainfall will exceed the monthly average by a significant margin. However, after September 14, rainfall in the region is likely to diminish, according to weather reports.
The IMD’s forecast extends beyond Delhi to include parts of Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. The IMD stated, “Light to moderate rain may occur in Delhi-NCR, many districts of Haryana and some districts of western Uttar Pradesh.” The districts expected to experience rain in Haryana include Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Panipat, Sonipat, and Rohtak. Other areas, such as Bhiwani, Mahendragarh, Rewari, and Palwal, are also likely to be affected. Western Uttar Pradesh districts, including Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shamli, and Bijnor, are also expected to experience rainfall. Additionally, districts like Moradabad, Bulandshahr, and Amroha are on the list of areas expected to be impacted by rain over the next few days.
The current weather system is not limited to Delhi-NCR. The IMD has also predicted heavy rainfall across central and northern India due to a depression over the Bay of Bengal, which has now moved over Chhattisgarh. The depression is expected to travel toward Uttarakhand via western Uttar Pradesh, bringing more rain to the region in the coming days. A cyclonic circulation over Gujarat could lead to heavy rainfall in western Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Konkan, Goa, and coastal Maharashtra. Coastal Karnataka, Kerala, and Lakshadweep are also expected to receive light to moderate rain this week, with scattered showers forecast for coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.
The IMD has issued a “yellow” alert for Delhi, cautioning residents about potential heavy rains and gusty winds reaching up to 30 kmph until Friday. On Tuesday, different parts of the city received varied amounts of rainfall. The Safdarjung observatory recorded 5.6 mm, while Palam station reported 10.5 mm of rain. Pitampura saw the heaviest rainfall at 27 mm, while areas such as Lodhi Road, Ridge, and Ayanagar experienced lighter showers. With waterlogging in multiple areas of Delhi, the city’s Traffic Police has issued an advisory urging the public to avoid certain routes. Among the areas listed are Najafgarh Phirni Road, GT Karnal Road, Dabri roundabout, and Outer Ring Road between Peeragarhi and Vikaspuri. Traffic disruptions have also been reported in southern and southwestern parts of the city. Commuters are advised to plan alternate routes to avoid heavily waterlogged areas.
As the weather system moves toward Uttar Pradesh, rainfall in Delhi will ease by Sunday. The IMD suggests that while the intensity of rain will diminish, the total rainfall for the month of September is likely to surpass the average. However, after September 14, monsoon rains in Delhi are expected to taper off, providing some relief from the recent weather conditions.
