NEW DELHI: Delhi Friday surpassed its annual normal rainfall quota with nearly four months still left in the year.Another intense spell of rain continued to put Delhi at odds with the El Nino impact elsewhere in the country. Water flooded stretches near IGI airport, AIIMS, Connaught Place and Anand Vihar and other areas, leaving commuters wading through knee-deep waters and traffic crawling at several key points.IMD data shows that Safdarjung, the city’s base station, has logged 780 mm of rainfall so far this year, against the annual normal of 774.4 mm. On Friday, between 8.30am and 5.30pm, it logged 32.6 mm of rainfall.It’s not over yet: Expect more showers over next few daysPalam saw heavy rainfall of 75.6 mm, along with a squall with wind speed touching 76 kmph. The squall, which lasted two minutes, occurred around 3.37pm. While Naraina recorded 54 mm, Janakpuri received 48.5 mm, Lodhi Road 34.6 mm, Pusa 29 mm, Jharoda Kalan 25 mm and Ridge 20 mm of rainfall.“The interaction of a well-marked low-pressure area, monsoon trough and a western disturbance led to a widespread rainfall in Delhi,” said D R Pattanaik, an IMD scientist. Last year, Delhi crossed its annual rainfall mark of 774.4 mm on Aug 14, marking the fastest such development since 2021, when the annual mark was breached on Aug 1.IMD data shows that of the total rainfall recorded so far, 686.5 mm of rainfall has been logged during the ongoing monsoon season since June 1. Aug was the wettest monsoon month this year, receiving 52% surplus rainfall.Delhi had witnessed a 44% rainfall deficit in June. However, after the onset of monsoon in the city on July 2, July saw frequent and widespread rain spells that resulted in 23% excess rainfall.Before the monsoon season, Feb and May saw a rain deficit of 98% and 43%, respectively. However, Jan, March and April witnessed a rain surplus of 33%, 15% and 84%, respectively.Though Delhi has crossed its annual rainfall normal, the country in the ongoing monsoon season has recorded 629.7 mm of rainfall as opposed to the seasonal normal of 727.9 mm, which is 13% below the long-period average.The city is likely to receive more rain over the next two days. The Met department has placed a yellow alert for light to moderate showers for Saturday while light rain is predicted for Sunday. However, rain is unlikely from Monday to Thursday.The maximum temperature Friday was recorded at 35.1 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, compared to 34.9 degrees Celsius a day earlier. It is likely to stay around 29-31 degrees Celsius Saturday. The minimum temperature touched 28.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal. It may drop to around 24-26 degrees Celsius over the next two days.Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality stayed in the satisfactory category with an AQI of 71. It stood at 74 the previous day.
