The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted overcast skies and heavy rainfall in the coming days. An 'orange' alert has been issued, signaling significant rainfall that could lead to localized flooding and disruptions.
“Moderate to heavy rainfall is likely till Wednesday. From Thursday until Saturday, we will again see a reduction in rain intensity,” the IMD said. Rainfall is expected to drop the maximum temperature by around 7-8°C during this period.Safdarjung, representative of Delhi’s weather, recorded zero rainfall in the last 24 hours till 8:30 am on Monday. Though forecasts of moderate to heavy rain were in place for Sunday, weather experts said the monsoon trough did not move towards Delhi, instead keeping humidity high. As per the IMD, the temperature was 35 degree C but the feel like index was recorded at 46.1 degree C while humidity stood at 62 per cent.
The IMD has clarified that the recent heavy rainfall in Delhi, which caused significant disruptions, was not due to a cloudburst but was close to one. The IMD's Chief, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, provided insights into the weather patterns that led to the intense rainfall on June 28. This activity was supported by thermodynamic instability in the atmosphere, which is favourable for thunderstorms.
The Safdarjung Observatory recorded 228.1 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Friday, more than three times the June rainfall average of 74.1 mm and the highest for the month in 88 years -- since 1936.
A cloudburst typically involves rainfall of over 100 mm in an hour within a localized area.
The IMD classifies rainfall as ‘light’ when it is between 2.5mm and 15.5mm; as ‘moderate’ when it is between 15.6mm and 64.4mm; as ‘heavy’ when it is between 64.5mm and 115.5mm and as ‘very heavy’ when over 115.5mm in a 24-hour window.
Regarding other States, the IMD forecast isolated heavy rainfall very likely over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana-ChandigarhDelhi, Uttar Pradesh, East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh during Monday to Friday.
