Delhi-NCR has experienced significant rainfall this month, surpassing both its annual and seasonal averages for September. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi has exceeded 1,000mm of rainfall this month, marking the highest total since 2021 and the second highest in the past decade. The IMD has forecasted more heavy showers for Saturday.
Recent downpours have led to severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions across the region. On Friday, Delhi recorded 54mm of rain at Palam and 30.9mm at Safdarjung within three hours. Gurugram received 18mm of rain during the day, adding to the previous 4mm recorded in the prior 24 hours.
Typically, Delhi receives around 650mm of rainfall during the monsoon season, but this year’s total has already surpassed 1,000mm. The city also saw a significant increase in rainfall this September, with 125.8mm recorded—55% above the average.
The extensive rainfall has resulted in Delhi achieving its cleanest air quality of the year, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping to 52, the lowest for the season. Last year, the AQI reached 45 on September 10, 2023.
Friday’s weather saw the maximum temperature in Delhi fall to 27.6°C, six degrees below normal. The IMD predicts a minimum temperature of 21°C and a maximum of 32°C for Saturday. An ‘orange’ alert has been issued for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning.
The persistent rain has caused severe waterlogging and traffic congestion in Gurugram, notably at Hero Honda Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, and IFFCO Chowk. Traffic has been severely affected on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, with significant delays on both main and service lanes.
At Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, a flight was diverted due to adverse weather, though overall flight operations were not severely impacted. The IMD has advised travelers to check traffic conditions and follow advisories to avoid delays and dangerous areas.
