Red alert issued for Delhi as heavy rain lashes capital ahead of BRICS Summit

Delhi drenched as red alert issued

Heavy rain, accompanied by strong winds, lashed parts of Delhi on Friday, September 11, 2026, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the city until 5 p.m. Clouds had already gathered over the national capital earlier in the day, a stark contrast to the recent dry and hot spell.

Central and northern areas, including locations significant for the upcoming BRICS Summit such as Parliament Street and Bharat Mandapam, experienced light to moderate rainfall. The BRICS Summit is set to take place in Delhi on September 12 and 13.

Forecast details and wider impact

The IMD updated its forecast at 1 p.m., stating that many areas could see light to moderate rain, with rates up to 15 millimetres per hour. Some parts might even experience heavy rain, exceeding 15 millimetres per hour, over the next few hours. This district-level nowcast was the basis for the red alert.

This wet weather offers a significant change after Delhi recorded maximum temperatures above normal for several days. On September 10, for instance, Safdarjung registered a maximum temperature of 36.6°C, which was 3.1°C higher than usual. The minimum temperature also stood at 27.4°C, 1.8°C above normal. No rain had been recorded at Safdarjung in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 a.m. on September 11.

Extended wet spell anticipated

Meteorologists expect the rain activity to continue over Delhi for at least the next two days, with light to moderate showers likely in the evening hours of Friday. The IMD forecast for Saturday, September 12, predicts generally cloudy skies with light rain in many places and moderate rain in isolated spots. Temperatures are expected to drop, with maximums between 30-32°C and minimums around 24-26°C.

The wet spell is then forecast to continue with very light to light rain from September 13 to 15, although with potentially lower intensity and coverage. Daytime temperatures during this period are projected to hover around 30-33°C. The ECMWF model guidance further indicates a more active rain spell later on Friday, concentrating around Delhi-NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, with thunderstorms possible in isolated areas of Haryana and Punjab.

Beyond Delhi, the IMD has also issued weather predictions for other regions. Parts of Rajasthan and Odisha are expected to see rain and thunderstorms starting September 12. Odisha is under a yellow warning until September 13 for heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty surface winds reaching 30-40 kmph. A low-pressure area over the northwest Bay of Bengal and a cyclonic circulation over northwestern Uttar Pradesh are contributing to this widespread weather system, which will also bring strong surface winds, potentially up to 60 kmph, to parts of Andhra Pradesh until September 14.