Delhi weather: Early rainfall brings wettest October day in four years to capital

What happened in Delhi

Delhi registered its heaviest single-day October rainfall in four years on Monday morning, as widespread thunderstorms brought down temperatures and delivered clean air across the national capital region.

Data from the India Meteorological Department showed the weather station at Safdarjung recorded 41.6 mm of rain in the 24 hours up to 8.30 am. This marks the highest 24-hour rainfall recorded in October since 9 October 2022, when Safdarjung registered 74 mm.

The early morning rain caused a noticeable drop in temperatures across the city. The minimum temperature at Safdarjung settled at 18.7 degrees Celsius, which is 2.3 degrees below the seasonal average and the lowest recorded so far this month. At Palam, temperatures dropped to 17 degrees Celsius, standing 4.5 degrees below normal, while Lodhi Road logged 18.7 degrees, Ayanagar recorded 18.5 degrees, and the Ridge recorded 20 degrees Celsius.

Rainfall distribution and AQI levels

Rainfall was recorded across all major weather observation centers in the capital. The Ridge station recorded the highest rainfall at 49 mm, followed by Safdarjung at 41.6 mm, Lodhi Road at 41.4 mm, Ayanagar at 39 mm, and Palam at 31 mm.

The precipitation delivered a significant boost to the capital's environmental conditions. The Central Pollution Control Board reported an overall Air Quality Index of 88 at 8 am, placing Delhi comfortably in the 'satisfactory' category.

Civic response and traffic management

Civic teams and traffic personnel deployed early across key corridors to maintain smooth city operations following the morning downpour.

The Delhi Traffic Police proactively managed traffic flow, issuing real-time updates and implementing managed diversions, including on Ansari Road between Dharampura and the Iron Bridge, to prevent congestion in areas affected by brief waterlogging. Municipal authorities addressed localized water accumulation reported in areas such as Sainik Farm and Mahipalpur, keeping core arterial routes clear for commuters during peak hours.

The weather department had earlier issued a yellow warning across all 13 districts of Delhi, predicting gusty winds of up to 40 km/h alongside light to moderate showers. Weather officials expect generally cloudy conditions with light rain to persist through the rest of the day, continuing the pleasant climate.