Delhi crosses annual rainfall average as heavy rain alert stays in force

Delhi’s rainfall total reached 804.7mm by 8.30am on Saturday, crossing the IMD’s annual long-period average of 774.4mm with nearly four months of the year remaining.

The city had already passed the annual mark on Friday after recording 32.6mm of rain by 5.30pm. Safdarjung, whose readings are used as Delhi’s representative rainfall measure, recorded 10.6mm between Saturday morning and 10.30am. Naraina logged 12.5mm in the same period, followed by Pragati Maidan at 9.6mm, Lodhi Road at 7.5mm and Mayur Vihar SPS at 5mm.

The IMD issued an orange alert for heavy rain through the day, then put most of the city under a red alert at about 10.20am. It forecast moderate to heavy rain, thunderstorms with lightning and winds of 50-60kmph for Delhi, except its western half. A red alert issued on Friday had also warned of heavy rain and gusty winds.

Saturday’s maximum temperature is forecast at 29-31°C. Delhi’s AQI was 58 at 11.05am, in the satisfactory category.