Delhi weather is expected to remain unsettled until September 16, with intermittent light rain forecast across the capital as the southwest monsoon may withdraw only after September 21, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The latest spell also helped Delhi’s air quality return to the satisfactory category on Saturday.
Several parts of the city received rain on Saturday, while other areas remained sunny under alternating cloud and sunshine. The uneven rainfall brought some relief from pollution but also added to humidity, with residents facing a combination of warm conditions and brief showers.
The IMD forecast indicates that light rain may continue at intervals in many parts of Delhi until September 16. The department said the southwest monsoon is expected to withdraw from the capital after September 21, suggesting that its departure could be slightly delayed this year. The current spell is also likely to be among the last significant rain periods of the monsoon season in Delhi.
Rainfall varied sharply across the city’s monitoring stations. Safdarjung recorded 3.4 mm between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Saturday, while Lodhi Road and Aya Nagar recorded 0.5 mm each. Palam received very little rain during this period, and no rainfall was recorded at the Ridge station.
The 24-hour rainfall total recorded until 8.30 am was 1.8 mm at Safdarjung, 4.7 mm at Palam, 2.4 mm at Lodhi Road, 10.6 mm at the Ridge and 10.3 mm at Aya Nagar. The variation reflects the localised nature of the showers, with rainfall conditions differing considerably across Delhi’s monitoring network.
At Safdarjung, Delhi’s standard weather station, the maximum temperature on Saturday was 36.4 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees above normal. The minimum temperature stood at 26.8 degrees Celsius, which was 1.2 degrees above the seasonal average. The IMD has forecast the possibility of light rain in isolated areas on Sunday.
The improvement in air quality followed the light rain and an increase in wind speed across parts of the capital. Delhi’s average air quality index was recorded at 70 on Saturday, placing it in the satisfactory category. The index had stood at 127 on Friday, 134 on September 10, 128 on September 9 and 113 on September 8, all higher than Saturday’s reading.
The forecast period will be important for residents, road users and civic agencies monitoring weather-related disruptions as the monsoon moves towards its seasonal withdrawal. The IMD’s next forecast will indicate whether the intermittent rain continues through September 16 and how conditions evolve before the expected withdrawal after September 21.
