Rain lashes Delhi-NCR; temperature dips amid IMD's yellow alert

Delhi rain

Parts of Delhi-NCR witnessed light to moderate rain and cloudy skies on Friday, as the weather department issued a yellow alert for rain and thunderstorms. The overcast conditions and showers brought relief from the recent spell of warmer weather during the first half of March.

The recent downpour has also made this March the wettest in three years, recording an average rainfall of 9.4 mm. The last higher rainfall for March was recorded in 2023 at 50.4 mm, news agency PTI reported.

So why is it raining in Delhi? According to Skymet, a western disturbance over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, along with an induced cyclonic circulation over Haryana, is driving rainfall across Delhi and neighbouring states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

एक अद्भुत पश्चिमी विक्षोभ उत्तर भारत पहुंच गया है। इसका स्वरूप काफी अलग है। एक द्रोणी हजारों किलोमीटर के एक सीधी लाइन में स्थित है, जो कि सामान्यतः बहुत विरल है । यह बहुत तेज आंधी तूफान ओर गरज चमक के बदल बनाने की क्षमता रखता है इसलिए सावधान रहे और imd को फॉलो करें। फोटो सौजन्य:… pic.twitter.com/lpZzsRYTXY

— 🔴All India Weather (@allindiaweather) March 19, 2026

Till 8.30 on May 19, rainfall was recorded across several monitoring stations in the city, including Safdarjung (8.2 mm), Palam (6.2 mm), Lodhi Road (8.2 mm), Ridge (8.6 mm) and Ayanagar (7.2 mm). Other areas such as Pitampura (5.5 mm), Pusa (11.0 mm), Mayur Vihar (3.0 mm) and Janakpuri (12.5 mm) also received showers of varying intensity. Overall, Safdarjung has recorded 9.4 mm rainfall so far in March, compared to the normal monthly average of 12.6 mm.

Temperatures across the city remained below normal on Friday, reflecting the impact of the changing weather pattern.

The Skymet added that while earlier forecasts had indicated heavier rainfall, the system is now shifting eastwards, and weather conditions are likely to remain similar in the coming days.