A day after some parts of Delhi experienced light rainfall, the national capital is poised for heavy rain over the next three days starting Tuesday, August 6. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a 'yellow' alert for this period, warning residents of potential disruptions and advising caution. Following this period, the intensity of the rainfall is expected to gradually reduce.
According to the IMD, Delhi is likely to see scattered rainfall in some areas on Tuesday, with the intensity ramping up to fairly widespread rainfall across the city on both Wednesday and Thursday. The weather department has forecast that the minimum temperature will hover around 27 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature could reach 34 degrees Celsius.
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President at Skymet, a private weather forecasting service, highlighted that a cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan is moving closer to Delhi. This weather pattern is expected to significantly increase the chances of heavy rainfall in the national capital.
On Monday, certain parts of Delhi recorded scattered light rainfall accompanied by strong surface winds blowing at speeds between 30-40 kmph throughout the day. The Safdarjung weather station, a key weather observatory for the city, registered 4.5mm of rainfall from 8:30 am Sunday to Monday. Meanwhile, the Palam weather station recorded 1.5mm of rainfall until 8:30 am on Monday, with a "trace" amount of rainfall noted in the subsequent nine hours.
According to weather officials, Delhi has recorded a total of 114.1mm of rainfall so far in August, against the monthly average of 233.1mm. This significant rainfall has already impacted various aspects of daily life, and the forecasted heavy rains are likely to further affect the city.
In addition to the forecast for Delhi, the IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall with extremely heavy rain at isolated locations over West Rajasthan on Tuesday. The weather bulletin further indicated that East Rajasthan would experience heavy to very heavy rain, while heavy rain is also likely at isolated spots in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and East Uttar Pradesh.
The IMD bulletin added that thunderstorms and lightning are expected at isolated locations across Uttarakhand, Punjab, East Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. These weather conditions could lead to localized flooding, disruptions in transport, and power outages, prompting authorities and residents to remain vigilant.
As the region braces for this period of intense weather, the IMD's advisories and updates will be crucial for ensuring public safety and minimizing the impact on daily life. The heavy rains are expected to test the city's drainage infrastructure and emergency response mechanisms, emphasizing the need for preparedness and prompt action in response to any weather-related incidents.