Delhi rain brings relief from October heat as IMD issues orange alert

Rain lashes parts of Delhi on Thursday (Pic/PTI)

After an intense spell of October heat in the last few days, Delhi on Thursday, October 15 received moderate rain showers.

As per PTI, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) earlier during the day issued an orange alert for moderate to intense rainfall, thunderstorms and lightning.

The weather forecasting agency also warned that moderate to intense rainfall at the rate of 5-15 mm per hour, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds with speeds of 40-60 kilometres per hour, is likely over the national capital.

The IMD said that the alert is in place until 2 pm, with intermittent spells of rain expected across several parts of Delhi.

Minimum temperature in Delhi drops down to 23.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday

The minimum temperature in Delhi at around 1:00 pm settled at 23.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday. However, the mercury was believed to be 3.7 notches above normal.

As per IMD, the maximum temperature is expected to settle around 29 degrees Celsius, marking a dip in daytime temperatures, as per PTI.

Experts further attributed the sudden spell of rain to a western disturbance and cyclonic circulation over adjoining areas.

They said the weather conditions were part of a normal post-monsoon pattern, with Delhi and other parts of the region likely to witness intermittent showers.

Delhi records wettest October day in 4 years

Heavy rain and thunderstorms in Delhi on Monday made it the wettest October day in four years, bringing the temperature down to the lowest recorded so far this month, the weather office said.

Delhi on October 4 recorded a minimum temperature of 18.7 degrees Celsius as the Safdarjung observatory received 41.6 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours till 8.30 am.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the last time Delhi recorded more rainfall in the month was on October 9, 2022, when Safdarjung logged around 74 mm of rainfall.

The minimum temperature at Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station, settled at 18.7 degrees Celsius on Monday, 2.3 degrees below normal and the lowest recorded so far this month.

Earlier this week, Palam recorded a minimum of 17 degrees Celsius, 4.5 degrees below normal, while Lodhi Road registered 18.7 degrees, the Ridge 20 degrees and Ayanagar 18.5 degrees Celsius, as per IMD.

(With inputs from PTI)