In Delhi and nearby NCR, light to moderate rain on Monday morning led to thunderstorms and strong winds, which led to a several degrees drop in temperature and cleared the wind.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded widespread rainfall in various parts of Delhi-NCR from Sunday night. Safdarjung, the city’s base observatory, recorded 14 mm rainfall in 24 hours till 8.30 am on Monday. During the same period, Palam and Lodi Road recorded 16.2 mm and 17.3 mm respectively.
According to three-hour rainfall data of IMD, Najafgarh received the highest 5.5 mm of rainfall between 2.30 am and 5.30 pm on Monday, followed by 4.4 mm in Safdarjung and 1–1 mm in Palam, Pusa and Narela.
Due to rain, there was a significant decline in day temperature on Monday. According to IMD, the minimum temperature at Safdarjung station at 8.30 am was recorded at 24 degrees Celsius, which is 3.9 degrees below the weather average.
The air quality improved slightly, although the air quality index (AQI) still remains in the ‘satisfactory’ category. AQI 73 was recorded at 9 am on Monday, while it was 83 on Sunday evening.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, AQI between zero to 50 is considered ‘good’, between 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, between 101 and 200, ‘medium’, 201 to 300 is considered ‘bad’, between 301 and 400 is considered ‘very bad’ and between 401 and 500 is considered ‘serious’.
The IMD issued a warning for Monday morning, which was estimated to splash with light rain and thunder in all four areas of Delhi-north-west, north-east, south-west and southeast and strong winds at a speed of 30–40 km per hour. A similar situation occurred in parts of NCR including Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad.
The Meteorological Department has released Yellow alert (be careful) for most parts of Delhi and NCR, while parts like North-West Delhi and parts of NCR are in Green Zone (no warnings) parts like Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Panipat.
According to IMD officials, light to moderate rains are likely in some parts of the area in the next 24 hours, as well as advised the residents to avoid going to open places during the storm and be vigilant about potential waterlogging in low -lying areas.
