Delhi Sees Highest December Rainfall In 15 Years; More Showers Likely

By Nikita Jha, New Delhi, Dec 28 (Times Now News): Delhi-NCR has been grappling with relentless rains since Friday, causing waterlogged streets, heavy traffic snarls, and widespread disruption to daily life. The downpour continued into the early hours of Saturday, accompanied by gusty winds that uprooted trees in several parts of the national capital, leaving residents wondering if the wet spell will persist.

For today, the IMD has issued a yellow alert for smog and shallow fog in most areas, with moderate fog expected in isolated places during the morning. The sky will remain generally cloudy, with intermittent rain and one or two spells of light rain or thunderstorms likely from early morning to forenoon. The rest of the day will see a cloudy sky, while smog or shallow fog is expected again in the evening and night.

Delhi Records Highest December Rainfall In 15 Years

Rain lashed Delhi-NCR throughout Friday with the city recording its highest December rainfall in the last 15 years and the mercury dropping sharply to 14.6 degrees Celsius, the weather department said. The rain began late Thursday around 2.30 am and continued throughout the day, it said. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, in the last 24 hours till 8.30 am on Friday, the city logged 9.1 mm of rainfall.

The total rainfall for December stands at 42.8 mm, marking the highest rainfall this month in the last 15 years, based on data from 2009 to 2024 available on the weather department's website.

Did Mercury Drop?

The mercury dipped to 9.5 degrees Celsius due to the rain, marking the lowest maximum temperature in the past five years. On Thursday, the maximum temperature was recorded at 24.1 degrees Celsius, according to IMD data.

GRAP-3 Revoked

The Centre's panel on Delhi-NCR's air quality on Friday rolled backstage 3 curbs under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) amid a dip in air pollution levels owing to continuous rains, according to an official order. Delhi's air pollution levels showed a declining trend and the 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 324 at 7 pm.

(With agency inputs)