Delhi weather remained humid and cloudy on Sunday, defying the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) prediction of light to moderate rain, which failed to materialize until late evening. The city’s humidity levels fluctuated between 60% and 97% throughout the day, accompanied by intermittent sunshine in certain areas, making outdoor activities uncomfortable.
IMD has now issued an orange alert for heavy rain spanning Monday to Wednesday, anticipating the monsoon trough’s northward movement over Delhi during this period. Mahesh Palawat, vice president of climate change and meteorology at Skymet, highlighted the expected trajectory: “The monsoon is currently south of Delhi and is projected to progress northward over the city on Monday and Tuesday, bringing prospects of significant rainfall. Subsequently, it will move towards the Himalayan foothills.”
Safdarjung, Delhi’s base station, recorded a maximum temperature of 37.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, aligning with seasonal norms, while the minimum temperature dipped to 27 degrees Celsius, slightly below average for this time of year.
June witnessed extreme weather patterns, marked by both high temperatures and heavy rainfall. The average monthly minimum temperature of 29.8 degrees Celsius was notably higher than the long-period average, indicative of increased humidity levels and a high heat index, which reached 51 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
Regarding rainfall, June 2023 saw a remarkable 243.4 mm, constituting a 228% excess compared to historical averages. This makes it the wettest June since 1936, when the city recorded 415.8 mm of rainfall.
Looking ahead, IMD forecasts heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds of 30-40 kmph for Monday. Temperatures are expected to moderate, with the maximum and minimum hovering around 33 and 26 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Recent weather extremes underscore the need for enhanced monsoon preparedness in Delhi, particularly as heavy rains can lead to traffic disruptions and waterlogging, highlighting infrastructure vulnerabilities across the city.