Delhi braces for more rain as IMD issues orange alert after hottest July day in two years

New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) Delhi residents woke up to hot and humid conditions on Monday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert, forecasting a generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall across the national capital.

The alert comes a day after Delhi recorded its hottest July day in two years. On Sunday, the maximum temperature climbed to 38.6 degrees Celsius, even as several parts of the city and the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced moderate rainfall during the afternoon.

According to the IMD, the maximum temperature was two degrees above the seasonal average and marked the highest July maximum since July 11, 2024, when the city had recorded 38.8 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature also remained above normal at 29.2 degrees Celsius, which was 1.3 degrees higher than average and the highest July minimum since July 2, 2024, when it stood at 30.7 degrees Celsius.

Despite the intense heat, moderate showers brought temporary relief to several areas. Chhatarpur recorded the highest rainfall in Delhi-NCR, receiving 49 mm of rain till 2.30 p.m. The downpour, however, led to waterlogging in parts of the locality, causing inconvenience to commuters and residents.

Among neighbouring regions, Gurugram recorded 35 mm of rainfall, followed by Mehrauli with 18 mm, Greater Noida with 17 mm, Najafgarh with 8 mm, and Janakpuri with 7 mm. Relative humidity was recorded at 92 per cent at 5.30 p.m., contributing to the prevailing humid conditions.

For Monday, the weather department has predicted moderate rainfall along with a generally cloudy sky. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle around 32 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category. According to the Sameer app, the Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 155 at 8 p.m. on Sunday. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 101 and 200 falls under the ‘moderate’ category.

Weather experts attributed the recent weather pattern to the seasonal monsoon trough shifting towards central India due to a low-pressure area over Odisha and an associated cyclonic circulation extending across parts of Madhya Pradesh and south Sindh. They said the trough is expected to gradually shift back towards Delhi and the Indo-Gangetic plains over the coming days, increasing the likelihood of more widespread and seasonally consistent monsoon rainfall across the region.

–IANS

jk/dpb