Delhi Rain: Record-breaking downpour of 14 years

The capital city witnessed heavy rainfall throughout the day on Saturday. As a result, a 20-year record for the highest rainfall in a single day in July was broken. Delhi received 133.7 millimeters of rainfall from Friday night to Saturday evening, with 3.4 millimeters recorded before 8 AM.

Between 8 AM and 8 PM, a staggering 130.3 millimeters of rainfall was recorded, which is the highest in 20 years. The weather department has also issued an alert for Sunday.

According to the weather department, the highest rainfall recorded on a single day in July was 133.4 millimeters in 2003, which still holds the record. This was followed by 126 millimeters of rainfall on July 28, 2009. In comparison, between 8 AM and 8 PM on Saturday, 126.1 millimeters of rainfall was recorded, and between 8 PM and 8 AM, 4.2 millimeters of rainfall was recorded.

Last July, Delhi received a total of 286.3 millimeters of rainfall. In comparison, this year, 168.3 millimeters of rainfall has already been recorded in just eight days, which is 58.84% more than last year. There is a possibility of continued rainfall for the next six days. Sunday could see heavy showers.

According to the weather department, the combination of monsoon winds and western disturbances caused torrential rainfall in Delhi. The highest rainfall was witnessed in Ridge area, Safdarjung, Lodhi Road, Delhi University, Pitampura, and Pusa.

Due to the heavy rainfall, the maximum temperature was 28.7 degrees Celsius, which is eight degrees below the normal, while the minimum temperature was 25 degrees Celsius, three degrees below the normal. The difference between the maximum and minimum temperature was only 3.7 degrees Celsius.

As a result, Saturday was the coldest July day in eight years. Previously, July 11, 2015, recorded a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. However, on July 29, 2021, the maximum temperature was 27.6 degrees Celsius.