Delhi and NCR Brace for More Rain as Orange Alert Issued

Heavy rain lashed several parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) in the early hours of Thursday, bringing relief from humid weather but also triggering waterlogging in several low-lying areas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for Delhi, warning of heavy rainfall throughout the day, while some parts of Delhi-NCR remain under a Red Alert.

Continuous rainfall led to waterlogging at several locations, including the New Delhi Railway Station, Munirka and other parts of the capital, affecting the morning commute. The rain is expected to provide respite from the oppressive humidity that residents have experienced over the past few days.

At 2:30 am, Delhi recorded a temperature of around 25.8 degrees Celsius with calm wind conditions.

According to weather forecasting agency Skymet Weather, a passing low-pressure area embedded within the monsoon trough is moving north of Delhi. The system's western and southwestern quadrants are expected to influence Delhi-NCR throughout the day, resulting in the formation of intense convective clouds and spells of heavy rainfall.

Skymet has forecast that East Delhi, East NCR, Ghaziabad, Noida, Baghpat and Meerut could receive 180-250 mm of rainfall over the next 24 hours. Central Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad and adjoining areas are likely to receive comparatively lower rainfall of 80-150 mm. The agency also warned that widespread waterlogging is likely across large parts of the region and advised residents to plan outdoor travel accordingly.

According to IMD data, cumulative rainfall recorded between 8:30 am on July 8 and 5:30 am on July 9 showed significant variations across Delhi-NCR.

Among Delhi stations, Mehrauli recorded the highest rainfall at 83 mm, followed by Lodi Road with 79 mm, Pusa with 73 mm, Chhatarpur with 68 mm and Mayur Vihar with 66 mm. Janakpuri received 62 mm, Narayana 57 mm, Pragati Maidan 46 mm, Najafgarh 42 mm, Mungeshpur 40 mm, Jharoda Kalan 33 mm and Jafarpur recorded the lowest rainfall at 6 mm.

In Ghaziabad, Kamla Nehru Nagar received 143 mm of rainfall, the highest across all monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR, while Hindon recorded 53 mm.

Rainfall in Gurugram remained comparatively light, with North CAP University recording 27 mm and KVK receiving 21 mm.

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds across Delhi-NCR on July 9. The maximum temperature in Delhi is expected to remain around 27 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is likely to hover near 26 degrees Celsius.

Thunderstorms accompanied by rain are expected to continue on July 10 and July 11. On July 11, the maximum temperature may rise to around 36 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is likely to remain close to 27 degrees Celsius. Strong winds with speeds of 40-50 kmph are also likely during this period.

Rainfall activity is expected to reduce on July 12 and July 13, although isolated showers may continue in some parts of Delhi-NCR. Residents have been advised to remain alert for waterlogging, traffic congestion and possible disruptions due to heavy rainfall.