At Taza News, we have the full breakdown of the weather alert, what’s causing this sudden shift, and what you need to know to stay safe and navigate the city.
The Big Picture: IMD Issues Orange Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an Orange Alert for the entire National Capital Region, including all districts of Delhi, as well as Noida and Ghaziabad.
What does an Orange Alert mean? It means you need to be prepared. The weather office is warning of more light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong gusty winds, potentially reaching speeds of up to 40 kmph. This kind of weather can cause significant disruptions, especially waterlogging and traffic chaos.
The spell of wet weather, which started intermittently on Monday afternoon, became much heavier overnight and is expected to continue through the forenoon of Tuesday, October 7th.
What’s Causing the Heavy Rain?
This unseasonal and intense rainfall is being caused by a powerful Western Disturbance (WD) moving across Northwest India.
Western Disturbances are weather systems that usually bring rain or snow to the northern hills during winter. This particular one is strong enough to pull moisture into the plains, resulting in the heavy showers we are seeing now. This same system is also causing fresh snowfall in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, which will impact Delhi’s temperature soon.
The good news? This heavy spell is expected to significantly reduce by Wednesday, making way for clearer skies later in the week.
Traffic and Travel Nightmare: Avoid These Routes
As is typical with Delhi’s heavy rain, the sudden downpour has led to massive waterlogging and traffic snarls across several key areas. Commuters traveling this morning are strongly advised to check real-time traffic updates before leaving home.
Taza News reports indicate the following areas are facing slow-moving traffic and waterlogging:
- Key Bottlenecks: Zakhira Underpass, parts of Dwarka, Lakshmi Nagar, and several low-lying stretches in South Delhi.
- Airport Travel: Passengers traveling to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport are advised to allow for extra time for their journey. The heavy rain is slowing road traffic and can cause temporary disruptions to flight schedules. Please check your airline’s status before heading out.
- General Advisory: Waterlogging is a major risk in underpasses and low-lying market areas. Drivers should proceed with extreme caution and avoid submerged roads if possible.
Our Taza News Tip: If your job allows, consider starting your commute a little later or working from home for the forenoon to let the immediate rush hour clear up.
The Silver Lining: Cooler Temperatures and Cleaner Air
While the rain brings travel trouble, it brings two major benefits that Delhiites will welcome:
- Temperature Drop: The cool winds and overcast skies have finally broken the late-season heat. The maximum temperature on Monday settled significantly below the normal for this time of year, and temperatures are expected to remain cool for Tuesday. As the Western Disturbance moves past, minimum temperatures are forecasted to dip closer to the mark by midweek, ushering in an early, pleasant, pre-winter chill.
- Air Quality Boost: The heavy rainfall has acted as a natural air purifier, washing away pollutants that were beginning to build up. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has improved notably, moving from the ‘Moderate to Poor’ category to the ‘Satisfactory’ range in most areas. This temporary cleaning of the air is a huge relief before the pollution levels typically worsen around the Diwali season.
Your 3-Day Taza News Forecast
Here is what the IMD predicts for the rest of the week:
