Delhi is likely to receive light to moderate rain over the next two to three days, with the India Meteorological Department issuing a yellow alert for Saturday as a combination of weather systems brings fresh showers to the capital. Rainfall activity is expected on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, although no warning has been issued beyond Saturday.
The southwest monsoon withdrew from Delhi on September 23, two days ahead of its normal withdrawal date of September 25. This was the earliest retreat from the capital since 2002, according to the weather report. Despite the early withdrawal, the city is expected to experience another spell of rain because of weather systems moving across central and northern India.
The IMD’s yellow alert covers Saturday. The latest spell is linked to a depression over Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh that is moving towards Uttar Pradesh, along with a weak western disturbance. Their interaction is expected to produce rainfall across parts of north India.
Mahesh Palawat, vice-chairman of Skymet, said the depression and western disturbance were expected to interact and lead to rain. He said heavy to very heavy rainfall was likely over Uttarakhand and northwest Uttar Pradesh, while Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan could receive light to moderate rain until September 28.
At Safdarjung, Delhi’s base observatory, the city recorded 728.6 millimetres of rainfall during the monsoon season. This was about 16% above the long-period average of 629.7mm. The season’s rainfall total provides the main official reference for conditions across the capital, even as local rainfall can vary between neighbourhoods.
Moist easterly winds and cloudy skies kept temperatures lower on Friday. The maximum temperature settled at 33°C, one degree below normal and lower than Thursday’s 35.9°C. The minimum temperature was 24.2°C.
The IMD has forecast a maximum temperature of 32°C to 34°C and a minimum temperature of 22°C to 23°C for Saturday. The expected showers could affect road travel, outdoor work and routine movement across Delhi-NCR, although the supplied weather report does not specify any traffic restrictions or waterlogging advisories.
Delhi’s air quality also improved on Friday. The city recorded an Air Quality Index of 78, placing it in the satisfactory category. The report did not provide a forecast for how the coming rainfall would affect air quality beyond the latest reading.
Rainfall is expected to continue through Monday, while the current warning remains limited to Saturday. The IMD’s next weather updates will determine whether any further alert is issued for the capital.
