IMD Issues Yellow Alert for Rain in Delhi as Heat Index Touches 40 Degrees

The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for moderate rainfall in Delhi on Tuesday and Wednesday, following scattered showers across parts of the city on Monday. The weather department expects rain to continue on Thursday, with further spells possible over the upcoming weekend across the capital, including areas like Safdarjung, Lodi Road, and Janakpuri.

Multiple locations across Delhi recorded rainfall until 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Delhi Ridge logged the highest precipitation at 19.4 mm, followed by Lodi Road with 11.5 mm and Safdarjung, the city’s base weather station, with 8 mm. Pusa received 4 mm of rain, while Ayanagar recorded 3.8 mm and Janakpuri logged 2 mm. Minimal rainfall of 0.5 mm each was recorded in Mayur Vihar, Narayana, and Najafgarh.

Despite the scattered showers, humid conditions persisted throughout Monday evening. The heat index, also known as the real-feel temperature, soared to 40°C at 5:30 p.m. The heat index is a measurement that indicates what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with actual air temperature, where higher humidity results in a higher heat index. At the time of peak heat index, the actual air temperature was 29°C while relative humidity was recorded at 100 per cent.

The maximum temperature in Delhi reached 38.1°C on Monday. However, daytime temperatures are expected to drop significantly following the rain. According to the IMD forecast, the maximum temperature is projected to dip to between 32°C and 34°C on Tuesday, and remain in the range of 32°C to 35°C for the remainder of the week.

For Tuesday and Wednesday, the IMD has predicted one or two spells of very light to light rain across most places in Delhi from early morning until noon, alongside moderate rain at a few locations. Another spell of similar intensity is anticipated towards the evening or night hours.