Delhi residents woke up to hot and humid conditions on Monday as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert, forecasting a generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall across the national capital. This alert follows Delhi’s hottest July day in two years, with a maximum temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius recorded on Sunday. Several parts of the city and the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced moderate rainfall during the afternoon.
The maximum temperature was two degrees above the seasonal average, marking the highest July maximum since July 11, 2024, when it reached 38.8 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature also remained above normal at 29.2 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees higher than average, and the highest July minimum since July 2, 2024, when it was 30.7 degrees Celsius. Despite the heat, moderate showers provided temporary relief to various areas, with Chhatarpur in Delhi-NCR receiving the highest rainfall at 49 mm, causing waterlogging in some parts.
Neighboring regions also experienced rainfall, with Gurugram recording 35 mm, Mehrauli 18 mm, Greater Noida 17 mm, Najafgarh 8 mm, and Janakpuri 7 mm. The relative humidity reached 92 per cent at 5.30 p.m., contributing to the prevailing humid conditions. The weather department has forecasted moderate rainfall and a generally cloudy sky for Monday, with temperatures expected to range around 32 degrees Celsius (maximum) and 27 degrees Celsius (minimum).
Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 155 at 8 p.m. on Sunday, according to the Sameer app. An AQI between 101 and 200 falls under the ‘moderate’ category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Weather experts attribute the recent weather pattern to the seasonal monsoon trough shifting towards central India due to a low-pressure area over Odisha and an associated cyclonic circulation extending across parts of Madhya Pradesh and south Sindh. The trough is expected to gradually shift back towards Delhi and the Indo-Gangetic plains, increasing the likelihood of more widespread and consistent monsoon rainfall in the region.
