Delhi gets light rain, IMD issues yellow alert for next two day

New Delhi: Moderate rainfall lashed several parts of Delhi on Monday morning, bringing relief from the hot and humid conditions that had prevailed in the national capital over the past several days.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more rainfall over the next two days and issued a yellow alert for the city, warning of light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms at isolated places.

According to the IMD, Delhi’s maximum temperature is expected to remain between 32 degrees Celsius and 35 degrees Celsius over the next two days, while the minimum temperature is likely to range between 26 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

On Sunday, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 38.3 degrees Celsius, three degrees above the seasonal average, while the minimum temperature settled at 31 degrees Celsius, around four degrees above normal, reflecting the prevailing hot and humid conditions before the latest spell of rain.

The weather department said changing monsoon conditions over northern India are likely to bring intermittent cloud cover and scattered showers in the coming days, providing further respite from the heat.

The IMD also said the southwest monsoon is poised for a significant revival after a prolonged lull. The renewed activity is expected to begin over Northeast India before gradually extending to eastern, central and northern parts of the country during the early part of the week.

Meteorologists have forecast widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms across several regions, with heavy rainfall likely at isolated places. The fresh spell is expected to bring relief to the Gangetic plains and parts of central India, which have experienced prolonged hot and humid weather in recent weeks.

The country has been witnessing a “break monsoon” phase, during which the monsoon trough shifts northwards, leading to a significant reduction in rainfall over central India and adjoining plains.

According to IMD data, India has so far received 244.6 mm of rainfall against the normal average of 323.1 mm, resulting in an overall rainfall deficit of 24 per cent.