Delhi and neighbouring areas are likely to receive moderate to intense rainfall on Thursday, October 15, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) placing the region under an orange alert. Rainfall may occur at a rate of 5-15 mm per hour, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds moving at 40-60 kilometres per hour.
The alert remains in force until 2 pm. Further rain and thunderstorms are also expected on Friday, while weather conditions are likely to become drier over the weekend.
The weather system has been triggered by a western disturbance and a cyclonic circulation. The minimum temperature in Delhi was recorded at 23.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday, which was 3.7 degrees above normal. The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 29 degrees Celsius, indicating cooler daytime conditions.
The IMD said the spell is consistent with a normal post-monsoon pattern. The southwest monsoon is continuing its withdrawal, while the northeast monsoon has become active.
October has already brought substantial rainfall to the national capital. Monday was Delhi’s wettest October day in four years, and the latest spell is expected to add to the month’s rainfall total.
The change in weather has also affected Delhi’s air quality. The city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 181 in the moderate category at 4 pm on Wednesday, compared with 158 at the same time on Tuesday, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
Under the CPCB classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’ and 401-500 ‘severe’.
The southwest monsoon is continuing to retreat from the country. On October 14, the withdrawal line extended through Dhubri, Kolkata, Angul, Khammam and Honavar, with conditions turning favourable for its further withdrawal from additional areas.
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