Delhi-NCR Under Red Alert as Monsoon Intensifies
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Delhi-NCR on Tuesday, forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across the national capital. This comes as the region continues to grapple with severe weather disruptions following intense downpours.
Flight Operations Disrupted at IGI Airport
Travel plans were significantly impacted at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 revealed 15 flight cancellations and over 90 delays by Tuesday morning. This follows a highly disruptive Monday, which saw 26 flights cancelled, 15 diverted to other cities, and over 390 delayed due to the inclement weather.
Widespread Flooding and Traffic Chaos
Monday's intense downpour led to widespread flooding across multiple parts of Delhi, Gurugram, and Noida, causing significant traffic congestion on major routes. While skies remained heavily overcast on Tuesday morning, the IMD predicts moderate rain for most of Delhi, with isolated areas experiencing very heavy showers.
Regional Weather Outlook
Gurugram and Faridabad are under a yellow alert, indicating more rainfall throughout the day, while Noida remains overcast without a specific weather warning. The current monsoon season has already brought significantly above-average rainfall to Delhi.
Above-Average Rainfall Recorded
Several weather stations in Delhi reported rainfall totals well above normal for the season up to August 24. Safdarjung recorded 246.2 mm (29% above average), Palam 227.2 mm (28% above), Lodi Road 233.2 mm (22% above), Ridge 243 mm (50% above), and Ayanagar a substantial 266.3 mm (66% above its seasonal average).
IMD Explains Weather Phenomenon
The IMD attributes the intense rainfall to a complex weather system. This includes the convergence of a middle and upper-level western disturbance with a low-tropospheric trough, which extends from a low-pressure area over Gangetic West Bengal towards southwest Uttar Pradesh, contributing to the persistent heavy showers.