DELHI WEATHER : Delhi and surrounding areas woke up to continuous and intense rainfall on Monday morning, marking a strong return of the monsoon after an extended dry phase. Areas including Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad witnessed heavy to very heavy showers, along with gusty winds and light thunderstorms, offering much-needed relief from the sweltering heat of recent days.
Although the monsoon had arrived early in Delhi, the region had seen only intermittent rainfall for about ten days. Now, weather patterns have shifted, resulting in widespread and significant showers across Delhi and the National Capital Region.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed Delhi-NCR under an orange alert, forecasting continued heavy rainfall throughout the day. The shift of the monsoon axis northward has created favorable conditions for more rain over the next four days.
This shift has positioned the monsoon trough over northern India, drawing moisture from the Arabian Sea, thereby intensifying rainfall. A Western Disturbance is also approaching the region, likely enhancing weather activity further with widespread rains and thunderstorms.
The heavy morning rainfall led to waterlogging in many parts of Delhi, causing severe traffic snarls. In Sangam Vihar, MB Road was completely submerged, severely affecting the morning commute. East Delhi areas such as Akshardham also reported flooding, with many commuters blaming the inadequate drainage system for the disruptions.
Earlier in the day, a yellow alert had been issued for the capital, which was later upgraded to orange. The IMD has also forecast light rain to continue across the region until July 12.
On a positive note, Delhi’s air quality continued to improve and remained in the ‘satisfactory’ category for the 11th consecutive day on Sunday—the longest such stretch this year. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi recorded an AQI of 76 at 4 PM, indicating sustained cleaner air since June 26.
In addition, the IMD has issued a high alert for Northwest India, warning of widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds in several states.
Himachal Pradesh may receive very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall at isolated spots, while similar conditions are likely to prevail in parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand. Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh are also expected to see heavy rain, while certain areas in Uttar Pradesh and eastern Rajasthan could experience intense downpours.