Delhi sees warmest July day in two years

Delhi recorded its warmest July day in two years on Sunday as the maximum temperature touched 38.6 degrees Celsius, while the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast moderate rain under an orange alert for Monday after showers and waterlogging hit parts of the city. The national Capital witnessed moderate rainfall during the afternoon, with Chhatarpur receiving 49 mm till 2.30 pm, the highest in Delhi-NCR. Waterlogging was reported from parts of Chhatarpur following the showers.

Rain accompanied by strong winds disrupted flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) on Saturday evening, forcing several aircraft to divert to nearby airports.

Airlines have also warned passengers of possible delays and disruptions as bad weather continues to affect operations in both Delhi and Mumbai. According to airport officials, 15 Delhi-bound flights were diverted because of unsuitable weather conditions over the national Capital.

Of these, nine flights were diverted to Jaipur, while two each landed in Amritsar and Lucknow. One flight each was diverted to Mumbai and Chandigarh. Airport authorities said flight movements may continue to be affected depending on weather conditions. Air India has advised passengers travelling to and from Delhi and Mumbai to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. In a post on X, the airline said, “Adverse weather conditions may impact flight operations to and from Mumbai and Delhi.”

IndiGo also issued a travel advisory, saying bad weather in Delhi and Mumbai has affected flight schedules. The airline said it is closely monitoring the situation and requested passengers to stay updated through its website or mobile app before travelling.

Gurugram recorded 35 mm of rainfall, followed by Mehrauli (18 mm), Greater Noida (17 mm), Najafgarh (8 mm) and Janakpuri (7 mm). According to the IMD, the maximum temperature settled at 38.6 degrees Celsius, two notches above normal, making it the highest July maximum in the city since July 11, 2024, when it had touched 38.8 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature was recorded at 29.2 degrees Celsius, 1.3 notches above normal. It was the highest July minimum since July 2, 2024, when the city had recorded 30.7 degrees Celsius.

The weather department has forecast a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain on Monday and placed Delhi under an orange alert. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle at 32 and 27 degrees Celsius, respectively. Current meteorological reports confirm that the city is dealing with a mix of high humidity and fluctuating temperatures, creating a stark contrast to the hot and highly humid air persisting across various parts of the city.

Relative humidity was recorded at 92 per cent at 5.30 pm.

Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category on Sunday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 155 at 8 pm, according to the Sameer app.

The Central Pollution Control Board classifies an AQI between 101 and 200 as ‘moderate’.