Heat, Humidity And Heavy Rains: What's Driving Delhi's Erratic Weather?

Heavy rainfall was recorded across several areas of Delhi-NCR this morning. The highest rainfall was recorded in Delhi's Janakpuri area, where 67 mm of rain fell. The second-highest rainfall was recorded in Gurugram, with 52 mm.

Earlier today, at 11:30 am, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a three-hour 'Red Alert' for rain across several districts of Delhi.

Rainfall (mm) in Delhi-NCR on Monday, till 1:15 pm:

Janakpuri: 67
Chhatarpur: 57
Faridabad: 54
Gurugram: 52
Pitampura: 35
Safdarjung: 29

The weather office has issued an 'Orange Alert' for rain in Delhi-NCR for the entire day.

The IMD has warned of a high probability of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and strong winds (around 60 km/h), along with heavy rainfall exceeding 15 mm/hour, in Central Delhi, East Delhi, New Delhi, North Delhi, North East Delhi, Shahdara, South Delhi and South East Delhi.

Normal life across the Delhi-NCR region was disrupted due to the heavy rainfall on Monday morning. Waterlogging on roads in several areas led to slow-moving traffic.

Dr Shashikant, a scientist at the IMD, said, "There are two main reasons for today's intense rainfall. On one hand, dry northerly winds are blowing into Delhi from the north, while on the other, a low-pressure area forming near West Bengal is causing moisture-laden easterly winds to flow in from the Bay of Bengal. The interaction between these two air masses has resulted in high-intensity rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in Delhi."

The shift in weather conditions across Delhi-NCR has also led to a drop in temperature, offering relief to residents who had been enduring heat and high humidity over the past few days.

A recurring pattern observed this year involves prolonged dry spells during the monsoon, which leads to a build-up of atmospheric moisture. When temperatures rise under these conditions, it creates intense humidity, causing considerable discomfort for the public.

Why This Year's Monsoon Has Been So Erratic

The impact of climate change on Delhi's rainfall patterns has been clearly evident during this year's southwest monsoon season. Since the first week of July, the monsoon's behaviour in Delhi has been highly erratic. There have been extended periods where the monsoon stalls and no rain falls, followed by sudden spells, after two or three weeks, of high-intensity, heavy rainfall lasting several hours.

This year, the southwest monsoon officially arrived in Delhi on July 2, 2026, five days later than usual. The normal date for the monsoon's arrival in Delhi is June 27. According to the IMD, this is the first time since 2021 that the monsoon has reached Delhi in July.

Delhi Weather Forecast For The Next Two Days

August 25, 2026: The sky will remain partly cloudy, with a possibility of very light rain during the afternoon. Maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are expected to range between 33 and 35 degrees Celsius, and 25 and 27 degrees Celsius, respectively. In most areas, the minimum temperature will remain around normal (within a range of -1.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius), and the maximum temperature across most parts of Delhi will also hover near normal levels. Wind speeds could reach up to 18 km/h during the morning hours.

August 26, 2026: The sky will remain partly cloudy. The maximum temperature in Delhi is likely to range between 34 and 36 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature is expected to be between 25 and 27 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures across most areas will remain close to normal (within a range of -1.5 to 1.5 degrees Celsius), and maximum temperatures will also stay near normal levels. Winds are likely to blow from the north-west, potentially reaching speeds of up to 20 km/h in the morning.