New Delhi: Delhi was placed under a red weather warning on Monday as heavy rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds swept several parts of the capital.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) initially issued the alert until 2.10 pm, forecasting rainfall of more than 15 mm per hour, before extending it to all districts until at least 5 pm.
The IMD’s district-wise warning showed East Delhi and several other areas facing intense rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and winds of 30-40 kmph. Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad remained under an orange alert.
The capital is expected to witness multiple spells of rain on Monday, but weather conditions are likely to turn largely dry from Tuesday. Very light rain is possible on Tuesday and Wednesday, while no rain is expected from Thursday through Sunday, with partly cloudy skies likely.
Experts attributed the changing rainfall pattern to the monsoon axis shifting towards the Himalayan foothills. Forecasters warned of scattered heavy showers, lightning and gusty winds in Delhi-NCR over the next two days.
Delhi’s August rainfall has already crossed its long-period average. Safdarjung recorded 3 mm on Monday, taking the monthly total to 246.3 mm against the August average of 233.1 mm.
