The highest continuous downpour in a single day during the month of July in the last two decades crippled Delhi on Saturday, with waterlogging and traffic snarls on arterial routes being reported from across the city. From 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, the Safdarjung weather station, which is considered to be a marker for the city, recorded 126.1 mm of rainfall — the highest in a single day in July since 2003, according to IMD data. The intensity of rainfall was highest from 11.30 am to 2.30 pm, when 77.3 mm of rainfall was recorded at Safdarjung, according to data from the IMD. Safdarjung recorded a higher amount of 133.4 mm on July 10, 2003, according to the IMD. For 24-hour data, the IMD will consider rainfall from 8.30 am on Saturday to 8.30 am on Sunday. The observatory at the Ridge near Delhi University recorded a higher amount of 128 mm from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm on Saturday, while Lodhi Road logged 118.2 mm. These three stations have recorded what the IMD categorises as ‘very heavy’ rainfall — from 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm. In contrast, the IGI Airport at Palam recorded a much lower amount of 17.8 mm till 5.30 pm. The IMD has attributed the rainfall on Saturday to the interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds. In an update issued later in the day, the IMD said this interaction is likely to continue over the next 24 to 36 hours, and could result in moderate rainfall over most parts of northwest India. The intensity of rainfall is likely to decrease from July 10 onwards, going by the forecast for the region. Meanwhile, Saturday’s maximum temperature in Delhi plummeted to 28.7 degrees, eight degrees below the normal for this time of the year, and well below the 35 degrees recorded on Friday. Rainfall is set to continue on Sunday as well. The IMD has issued an ‘orange’ alert for the day, which is a warning to be prepared for waterlogging and traffic disruptions. Moderate rainfall, thundershowers and heavy rainfall in isolated places is on the forecast for Sunday. For the month of July till 5.30 pm on Saturday, Safdarjung has recorded 164.1 mm of rainfall. The normal or long-period average for the entire month is 209.7 mm. Saturday was the sixth rainy day this month. The monsoon arrived in Delhi on June 25.
