Delhi to Witness Above-Normal Rainfall This Monsoon: IMD
New Delhi, May 28 — Delhi is set to receive above-normal rainfall this monsoon season, according to the latest forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The national capital, along with the broader subdivision comprising Haryana and Chandigarh, is expected to receive 114% of the Long Period Average (LPA) rainfall between June and September.
While the IMD has not yet announced the specific date for the monsoon’s arrival in Delhi, officials say the monsoon is progressing significantly ahead of schedule. It already reached Kerala on May 24, a full week before the normal onset date of June 1, and touched Mumbai on May 26, over two weeks early.
“Monsoon typically arrives in Delhi by June 27, but we are seeing rapid advancement this year. We are closely monitoring the progress,” an IMD official said.
Record Rainfall in May
Delhi has already recorded 186.4 mm of rainfall this May, making it the wettest May on record for the city. More showers are expected this week, with the IMD issuing a yellow alert for Thursday and Friday, forecasting light rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h. Light rain is also likely on Saturday.
The city saw a spike in temperature on Tuesday, with the maximum rising to 37.4°C from 35.1°C the previous day. Despite the increase, the temperature remained three degrees below normal. IMD expects the mercury to hover around 38–40°C on Wednesday and Thursday, before dipping slightly with the onset of rain.
National Outlook
On a national scale, the IMD forecast an above-normal monsoon for the country as a whole, estimating 106% of the LPA. This is expected to support agricultural activities and replenish water reserves across India.
The LPA refers to the average rainfall recorded over a long period for a particular region and timeframe. For June, Delhi’s LPA is 74.1 mm. However, last year the city received 243.4 mm in June, including a single-day deluge of 228 mm on June 28, which led to widespread waterlogging.
Air Quality Update
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘moderate’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 133 at 4 PM on Tuesday, up from 105 at the same time on Monday.
