Delhi Weather – Rain Alert Issued as Cloud Cover Persists Across Capital
Delhi Weather – Cloudy conditions remained over Delhi on Friday after widespread rainfall brought relief to several parts of the national capital a day earlier. The India Meteorological Department issued a yellow alert, warning residents of possible thunderstorms, lightning and light to moderate rain during the day.
Rainfall recorded at major weather stations
Safdarjung, Delhi’s main weather observatory, measured 33.6 mm of rain in the 24-hour period ending at 8.30 am on Friday. Lodhi Road received a similar amount, recording 33.7 mm during the same timeframe.
Other stations reported varying rainfall levels. The Ridge observatory logged 25.9 mm, while Ayanagar received 4.2 mm. Palam recorded the lowest rainfall among the listed stations at 1.8 mm.
The showers on Thursday affected traffic movement in some areas, but they also brought down daytime heat and added moisture to the city’s atmosphere. The weather department said the changing conditions were linked to ongoing monsoon activity over the region.
Thunderstorms likely during afternoon and evening
The IMD forecast said Delhi could witness thunderstorms with lightning later on Friday. Very light to light rain is expected in many places, while isolated pockets may receive moderate showers during the afternoon and evening.
Residents have been advised to remain alert during periods of lightning and sudden rainfall, particularly while travelling or spending time outdoors. Low-lying areas and roads prone to waterlogging may also see temporary disruption if rainfall intensifies.
A yellow alert is generally issued to encourage people to stay updated on local weather developments and take basic precautions. It does not necessarily indicate severe weather across the entire city, but conditions can change quickly in different parts of Delhi.
High humidity adds to damp conditions
Humidity levels remained high after the overnight and early morning rain. At 8.30 am, relative humidity at Safdarjung was recorded at 92 per cent.
High humidity often makes the weather feel warmer and more uncomfortable even when temperatures remain lower than usual. With cloud cover continuing through the day, the city is likely to experience damp and overcast conditions in several localities.
The weather office said rainfall activity may remain uneven, meaning some parts of Delhi could receive a brief spell while others may remain mostly dry. Such variations are common during the monsoon season, especially when thunderstorms develop over isolated areas.
Minimum temperatures stay below seasonal average
The minimum temperature at Safdarjung settled at 25.8 degrees Celsius, which was 1.5 degrees below the normal level for this time of year. Palam recorded a low of 24.4 degrees Celsius, 2.8 degrees below normal.
Lodhi Road registered a minimum temperature of 25.7 degrees Celsius, marginally below the seasonal average by 0.3 degree. The Ridge station recorded the lowest minimum temperature among the major monitoring centres at 22.9 degrees Celsius, 3.6 degrees below normal.
Ayanagar reported a minimum temperature of 24.6 degrees Celsius, which was 2.4 degrees below normal. The lower readings reflected the impact of rain, cloud cover and reduced overnight heat across parts of the capital.
Air quality improves after rainfall
Rainfall also helped improve Delhi’s air quality on Friday morning. Data released by the Central Pollution Control Board showed that the city’s Air Quality Index stood at 54 at 9 am.
This placed Delhi in the satisfactory category. Under CPCB standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, while readings from 51 to 100 fall under the satisfactory range. An AQI between 101 and 200 is classified as moderate, followed by poor, very poor and severe categories at higher levels.