Delhi and its adjoining National Capital Region (NCR) witnessed unexpected rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms for the second straight day on Thursday amid harsh winter conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 30.8 mm of rainfall in Safdarjung until 8:30 am, surpassing the monthly rainfall normal of 21.3 mm on the first day of February itself. In Palam, the rainfall was recorded at 23 mm so far. This comes after a very dry January when the capital saw 0 mm of rainfall against the normal of 19.1 mm, marking a -100 per cent departure from normal.
The rainfall was recorded at 24 mm in Narela, 23 mm in Ridge, 16 mm in Pitampura, 15 mm in Pusa, 19 mm in Pragati Maidan, 19 mm in Lodhi Road, 23 mm in Ujwa, 20.5 mm in Gautam Budh Nagar, and Ghaziabad recorded 18.5 mm.
The incessant rainfall since Wednesday failed to give respite from the cold winds coming from the hills, adding to the chill here. The minimum temperature on Thursday was recorded at 12.3 degrees Celsius, four notches above the seasonal normal, while the maximum temperature settled at 18.6 degrees Celsius, four notches below the normal.
IMD data shows the maximum temperature recorded in Palam at 18.5 degrees Celsius, Pitampura at 19.8 degrees Celsius, Lodhi Road at 18.4 degrees Celsius, Ridge at 18.6 degrees Celsius, and Ayanagar at 18.4 degrees Celsius.
The intense downpour, which started on Wednesday, has led to road blockages and widespread waterlogging. Overnight heavy rain in the national capital led to traffic snarls in several parts of the city on Thursday, causing inconvenience to commuters. This has compounded the challenges for the city’s residents, who were already grappling with the severe winter conditions. Several trains and flights have also been delayed owing to the adverse weather conditions.
Heavy rainfall in Delhi and the National Capital Region has failed to bring any respite from the winter chill, as the maximum temperature in the city dropped to 18 degrees Celsius, four notches below the season’s normal. However, the IMD has said that no cold wave conditions are expected in Delhi and NCR over the next five days, despite the rains that have lashed since January 31. However, the IMD has said that no cold wave conditions are expected in Delhi, NCR over the next five days, despite the rains that have lashed since January 31.
The Delhi Police reported on X that traffic is affected on the Ring Road in the carriageway from the Hanuman Mandir towards the ISBT due to waterlogging near the out-gate of ISBT. The police also mentioned that traffic was affected on the outer Ring Road in the carriageway from Nehru Place towards Hauz Khas due to waterlogging near the Chirag Delhi Flyover.
“Traffic is affected on MB Road in the carriageway from Tughlakabad towards Khanpur due to waterlogging near Ratiya Marg and Hamdard T-point. Traffic is affected on MB Road in the carriageway from Khanpur towards Tughlakabad due to waterlogging opposite the Ambedkar Nagar Bus Depot, Tigri Mor, and Vayusenabad,” it was stated on X.
Similarly, traffic was also affected on Chaudhary Charan Singh Marg from the Apsara Border towards Anand Vihar, on Rohtak Road from Rajdhani Park towards Mundka, and on Mathura Road from Badarpur towards Ashram due to waterlogging.
According to the IMD, the all-India seasonal cumulative rainfall percentage departure during this year’s Winter Season’s Rainfall for the period from 1 to 31 January 2024 is -58 per cent.
After an unusual snow-less spell during the winter, the mountain peaks in the western Himalayan region, which remained noticeably bare this winter season, finally turned into snow-capped ones, bringing joy to all who were earnestly waiting for it. Earlier, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed it to the lack of active western disturbances (WDs) that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring unseasonal rainfall to northwest India. The lack of active WDs can also be attributed to the prevailing El-Nino conditions and abnormal warming of surface waters in the central Pacific Ocean.
Meanwhile, the IMD has decided to discontinue the services of the 199 district agromet units that provide crucial and detailed weather-related advisories to lakhs of farmers at the block level, helping them reduce crop losses and increase income.