The Unexpected Deluge: Monsoon Arrives in Delhi with Record-Breaking Rainfall
NEW DELHI: Scorched and parched by record heat and dry spell over the past two months, Delhiites had been eagerly awaiting the monsoon. When it arrived unexpectedly on Friday morning, it brought with it a deluge the likes of which the city hadn’t seen in nearly three decades.
The city’s base station Safdarjung recorded 228.1mm of rain in 24 hours – the highest on a single day since 1996 and the wettest day in June since 1936 – with as much as 148.5mm falling in just three hours from 2.30am to 5.30am.
IMD promptly declared the arrival of monsoon in Delhi, revising its earlier onset forecast of June 29-30. The agency had forecast light to moderate rain for Friday but Safdarjung recorded “extremely heavy” showers, turning it into a day of traffic trauma and rain-related mishaps.
Flooding across Delhi resulted in traffic gridlock and waterlogged underpasses – with spots like Minto Bridge and Pragati tunnel turning into rivers as drain capacities were breached. This forced office-goers to rework their schedules, cancel appointments and left many stranded in their cars.
Weather scientists explained that the extreme rain was a result of the interaction of different weather systems, with a warning that Sunday could see a repeat. The rain was accompanied by a thunderstorm and strong, gusty winds.
Palam recorded 106.6mm of rainfall, Lodhi Road 192.8mm, and the Ridge area 150.4mm. The showers brought about a sharp drop in temperature, providing relief from the scorching heat.
The weather department expects the downpour to continue, issuing an orange alert for moderate to heavy rain on Saturday and heavy to very heavy rain on Sunday. The air quality of the city remained satisfactory despite the heavy rainfall.
