NEW DELHI: Cold waves, record-breaking temperatures, the national capital saw it all this month, but what stands out is the significant rainfall the city received in just 24 hours between December 27 and 28.
According to the IMD, Delhi recorded its highest rainfall in 24 hours after 101 years. The last time such a volume was noted was on December 3, 1923, when 75.7 mm of rain was recorded.
Delhi usually receives 8 mm of rain during the entire month of December, so the rainfall in the last 24 hours, which was over five times that amount, is particularly noteworthy. Specifically, the city saw 41.2 mm of rain from 8:30 am on Friday to 8:30 am on Saturday.
The IMD attributed the rain and thunderstorms to an active western disturbance interacting with easterly winds. The rainfall in the Delhi-NCR is expected to help lower temperatures over the weekend, with the IMD forecasting a maximum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 12 degrees Celsius in Delhi.
However, the rainfall contributed to a slight improvement in air quality, which remained in the “moderate” category with an AQI of 142 at 11 am.
The minimum temperature recorded early Saturday morning at the Safdarjung weather station was 12.7 degrees Celsius.