After remaining totally anhydrous since the beginning of June, Delhi/NCR got soaked with extremely heavy rains today early morning. The base station at Safdarjung recorded massive 228mm rainfall within 4 hours between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. This record rainfall in 24 hours just fell short of an all-time, 24-hour high rainfall of 235.5 mm on 28th June 1935. The airport observatory at Palam had stormy conditions: strong winds, torrent rains, and dense clouds with thunderstorms during the same period. The observatory recorded 107 mm of rainfall till 8.30 a.m. The meteorological office at Lodhi Road was deluged with 192.8mm of rainfall, in just a few hours.
A portion of the Terminal-1 roof collapsed injuring a few killing one person and damaging vehicles. Flying operations are suspended at the terminal till further notice. Roads and streets got flooded, choking traffic and throwing life out of gear. Weather conditions have since improved, rains have ceased and an overcast sky prevails. All is not yet over and rains are likely to revisit over the weekend.
A cyclonic circulation is marked over parts of Central Rajasthan and an east-west trough from this feature is in the close vicinity of Delhi. There is yet another circulation, a bit far over the Northwest Bay of Bengal and coastal parts of Odisha. This will move rapidly inland. Monsoon easterly stream will be strengthened all along the Indo-Gangetic plains. The pre-existing trough and circulation in the proximity of Delhi will get further organized. Under the combined influence of western disturbance moving across the mountains and compact circulation near Delhi, rains are expected to lash again the national capital and suburbs.
Improved weather conditions are likely today, across most parts of Delhi/NCR. These conditions start clamping down again, tomorrow onwards. Heavy rains will lash the national capital for the next 48 hours. Heavy to very heavy rains are expected on Sunday. These could disrupt normal life and impact rail, road and flying operations. Monsoon onset is likely over Delhi in the next about 24 hours. The rainfall activities will continue during the next week, as well. The rains will be mostly moderate, embedded with isolated heavy spells. The heat will remain suppressed during the first week of July. The day temperature will hang around in the low 30’s and minimum temperatures will hover in the mid-20s. Partial cloud cover on all these days will restrict the hot sun. Light and pleasant breeze in the morning will be the highlights of daily weather, during this period.
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Image Credit: Business Standard
