Delhi, on Saturday and Sunday, received heavy rainfall breaking a 41-year record by recording 153 mm of rain in 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Sunday – the highest in a single day in July since 1982, the IMD has said.
According to the India Meteorological Department, New Delhi’s Safdarjung recorded the third highest 24-hour rainfall (for the month of July) on 8th-09th July, 2023, since 1958.
The Safdarjung weather station, which is the city’s weather base recorded 153 mm of rain till 8.30 am, the IMD said in a tweet along with the details of the five highest rainfall records of 24-hour rainfall in the month of July for New Delhi (Safdarjung) during 1958-2023.
In 1958, Safdarjung Observatory had recorded 266.2 mm of rain during the July 20-21 period while in 1982, it logged 169.9 during the July 25-26 period, IMD said.
Moderate to heavy rain continued to lash several parts of the city and its adjoining areas on early Sunday morning with the IMD predicting high-intensity showers over the National Capital for the next two days.
Dr Charan Singh, Head of the Regional Meteorology Center, New Delhi said, “The intensity of rain that was yesterday will be the same in the mountains today, although the intensity of rainfall will decrease in plains from today. Yet there are chances of heavy rainfall’.
“If I speak about Delhi NCR, still there are chances of heavy rainfall at 1-2 locations and then Delhi NCR will not be witnessing heavy rainfall for the next 4 to 5 days. Although rain will continue to occur intermittently, but the intensity will be less,” Singh said.
He further said that in Northwest India, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will witness extremely heavy rainfall for the next two days.
In view of incessant rains in the national capital for the last two days, the Delhi government has decided to keep the schools closed for Monday, said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
“In view of the torrential rains lashing Delhi for the last 2 days and warnings from the Meteorological Department, all schools in Delhi are being closed for a day tomorrow,” Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi on Sunday.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Sunday and took updates. Shah spoke to the Delhi LG as downpour slowed down traffic movement after waterlogging several parts of the city.