Delhi's Monsoon Surplus: Record Rainfall and Clean Air

Delhi has experienced unprecedented rainfall in early September, surpassing a total of 1,000 mm. This has resulted in the cleanest air recorded this year. The situation led to the weather department upgrading the alert to orange, indicating potential severe disruptions in transport and power outages.

Delhi has exceeded its annual and seasonal average rainfall in early September, crossing the 1,000 mm mark—well beyond normal levels—while residents enjoyed the cleanest air of the year so far on Friday.

The city was under a yellow alert until Friday afternoon, which has now been upgraded to an orange alert, according to the weather department.

On Friday, Delhi recorded 54 mm of rainfall in Palam, while the Safdarjung weather station noted 30.9 mm within three hours, from 2:30 to 5:30 pm. With this downpour, Delhi's total rainfall has reached 1,000 mm, and the monsoon season remains active.

Extreme weather events are impacting the national capital, as experts highlighted that typically during the monsoon season, Delhi receives nearly 650 mm of rainfall.

Delhi also surpassed its monthly average rainfall with 125.8 mm recorded in September, which is 55% higher than normal. However, September 2023 had below-average rainfall at 82.7 mm, 33% lower than usual. Since Wednesday night, Delhi has experienced intermittent rain, with the IMD warning of possible impacts like localised flooding, waterlogging, underpass closures, and reduced visibility due to heavy rain. Increased travel times are also anticipated.

The weather department advised residents to check for traffic congestion, follow advisories, and avoid staying in vulnerable structures. The Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 52, the lowest this season, following the rains. The maximum temperature recorded was 27.6°C, six notches below normal, with relative humidity oscillating between 100 and 96%.

An orange alert indicates extremely bad weather, warning of potential disruptions to transport and power outages.

(With inputs from agencies.)