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Heavy to very heavy rain is likely in parts of Delhi-NCR on Tuesday. Widespread thunderstorms from Uttar Pradesh are expected to move into the region over the next few hours. The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for the capital and surrounding areas. Multiple spells of rain continue across Delhi-NCR.

The IMD has forecast one or two spells of very light to light rain at most places from the forenoon to the afternoon. Moderate rain is likely at a few locations. Another spell of very light to light rain is expected towards the evening or night. Janakpuri recorded only 0.5 mm of rain on Tuesday morning.

In its bulletin, the IMD stated that intermittent spells of light to moderate rain are very likely at most places in Delhi. Heavy rain is expected at isolated spots. The warning remains valid until 3 pm today.

Weatherman Navdeep Dhaiya has provided more specific timing. Heavy to very heavy rain is set to begin in Ghaziabad by 11 am. Moderate to heavy rain is likely in Noida, Delhi and Faridabad after 11:30 am. Gurgaon is expected to receive moderate to heavy rain after 12 pm.

According to IndiaMetSky Weather, the rainfall may turn heavy. This could lead to waterlogging in low-lying areas. The intense spell is expected to last around two hours before easing in the afternoon. Scattered showers are likely to continue through the rest of the day.

Delhi recorded 4 mm of rainfall in the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Tuesday. Lodi Road received 4.8 mm, while the Ridge measured 6.9 mm. Palam saw only a trace of rain, and Ayanagar recorded none.

The city has received above-normal monsoon rainfall so far. Between June 1 and August 10, Delhi accumulated 534.3 mm of rain.

Looking ahead, very light to light rain is expected on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Multiple spells of rain are likely on Friday and Saturday.

The IMD classifies rainfall up to 15.5 mm as light. Amounts between 15.6 mm and 64.4 mm count as moderate. Rainfall from 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm is termed heavy, while 115.6 mm to 204.4 mm is classified as very heavy.

Meanwhile, several parts of Mumbai received heavy rainfall in the early hours of Tuesday. SpiceJet has issued an advisory to passengers. The airline warned that adverse weather could disrupt flight schedules and advised travellers to plan accordingly.

The latest IMD nowcast indicates light to moderate rainfall today in areas including Santacruz, Colaba, Worli, Chembur, Mulund, Borivali, Powai and Navi Mumbai.

Delhi-NCR is likely to receive moderate to heavy rainfall this afternoon. Thunderstorms have already started forming over parts of the region.

Weather activity is expected to grow stronger as the day continues. Short but intense bursts of rain remain possible.

The main rainfall window is forecast between 1 pm and 4 pm. During this period, scattered moderate to heavy showers could affect Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad.

Rain may also reach parts of Gurugram between 2 pm and 6 pm. Coverage, however, is likely to stay uneven.

Conditions across the National Capital Region will remain highly localised. Not every area will receive rain. Forecasts suggest that around 40 to 60 percent of the NCR could see showers during the active period.

Wherever thunderstorms develop, the rainfall can turn intense. Individual spells may last 30 to 60 minutes. These bursts can overwhelm drainage systems and cause temporary waterlogging, especially in low-lying zones.

Sudden changes in road conditions are also possible. Reduced visibility and water accumulation may appear on major routes. Therefore, afternoon commuters could face delays in areas that receive the heaviest rain.

Atmospheric instability and available moisture are driving the thunderstorms. These conditions often produce highly localised rainfall. One part of the NCR may experience a heavy downpour while a nearby area stays relatively dry.

The risk of significant rainfall is expected to drop sharply after 6 or 7 pm. An isolated shower cannot be ruled out completely. Widespread or intense rain, however, remains unlikely in the late evening.

Delhi recorded a humid morning on Monday. The minimum temperature settled at 27.6 degrees Celsius. Safdarjung, Palam, Ayanagar, and Lodhi Road stations all reported the same minimum. The Ridge area stayed cooler at 24.5 degrees Celsius.

No rainfall was recorded at the five main stations between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm on Sunday, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Air quality in the national capital remained in the satisfactory category. The average Air Quality Index stood at 88, based on Central Pollution Control Board data.

China’s national observatory issued a red alert on Sunday. This is the highest level in its typhoon warning system. Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on the country’s eastern coast in Zhejiang province.

Authorities also upgraded the emergency response for severe weather disasters from Level III to Level II.

The National Meteorological Centre reported that the typhoon came ashore along the east coast between Sanmen in Zhejiang and Fuding in Fujian on Sunday afternoon. It warned of heavy rain, strong winds, and a wide impact area in the coming days. Several eastern and northern regions are likely to face effects.

Chief forecaster Wang Haiping explained the need for high alert. The typhoon brings intense rainfall, covers a large area, and will last for a long time. From Sunday to Wednesday, heavy downpours are expected across northern Fujian, Zhejiang, Shanghai, northern Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, eastern Hubei, central and eastern Henan, and southern Shandong. Some areas in central and eastern Zhejiang and southern Anhui may experience severe torrential rain.

Coastal areas of East China and the East China Sea must prepare for gale-force winds. From Sunday to Tuesday, most parts of the East China Sea, Hangzhou Bay, the coastal areas of Zhejiang, and the Yangtze River Estuary are forecast to see winds of Force 9 to 12. Gusts could reach Force 11 to 14. Near the typhoon’s centre, gusts may hit Force 15 to 16.

The centre also urged provinces to guard against secondary disasters from persistent heavy rain. Risks of mountain torrents, geological disasters, and flash floods in small and medium-sized rivers remain relatively high in Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, and Hebei. Some cities face a high risk of urban waterlogging.

Typhoon Dolphin is expected to move north-westward and gradually weaken after landfall. After Wednesday, the weakened remnant vortex will turn northward. A typhoon’s landfall does not end its impact. The system will continue to push further inland. From Thursday to Sunday, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, northern Shandong, and Liaoning are likely to receive heavy rain. Some places may see severe torrential downpours.

Overall, Chinese authorities have raised both the typhoon warning and emergency response levels. Forecasts point to strong winds, heavy rain, and risks of flooding and related disasters across several regions through the coming week.

Heavy monsoon rains struck Delhi and the National Capital Region on Friday, August 7, 2026. The downpour broke a 15-year weather record. Major roads faced severe traffic disruption as a result.

The India Meteorological Department reported that Delhi received 127 mm of rain in the first seven days of August. This figure marks the highest first-week August rainfall in the capital since 2011. It far exceeds the two-decade average of 42 mm for the same period.

Rainfall intensity varied across the city. Pushp Vihar recorded the highest single-day total at 147.5 mm. Chhatarpur followed with 131 mm. Meanwhile, Palam registered its highest 24-hour August rainfall in several years. Gurugram measured 67.5 mm. Significant rain also fell across Greater Noida, including Jewar and Dadri.

Three weather systems combined to drive the intense monsoon surge. An active monsoon trough lay directly over Ganganagar and Delhi, extending toward southwest Uttar Pradesh and the Bay of Bengal. In addition, a well-marked low-pressure area with cyclonic circulation reached up to 4.5 km into the atmosphere over southwest Uttar Pradesh. An active western disturbance over northwest India also channelled moisture into the northern plains.

The heavy rain submerged low-lying stretches under up to four feet of water. Commuters faced long delays and vehicle breakdowns on several key routes. These included the Red Fort Outer Ring Road, ITO junction, Kapashera Border, Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, Wazirabad Road, and major roads in Gurugram.

Aging drainage systems and rapid concrete development limited natural water absorption. Residential areas and major intersections therefore flooded quickly.

The rain brought some relief from humid temperatures. It also kept Delhi’s Air Quality Index in the satisfactory range.

For Saturday, August 8, the IMD forecasts overcast skies with light to moderate intermittent showers. Extreme intensity similar to Friday remains unlikely. Maximum temperatures should stay between 30°C and 32°C. Widespread rain is expected across Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. No specific heavy rainfall warnings remain active for the capital.

The record rainfall highlights growing pressure on urban infrastructure. High-intensity rain events now occur over shorter periods. Municipal authorities in Delhi and Gurugram face increasing demands to improve drainage networks and manage flood risks more effectively.

The southwest monsoon continues to shape India’s economic fortunes. This year, prolonged heatwaves and concerns about possible El Niño conditions raised fresh questions about water security.

The India Meteorological Department projected the 2026 southwest monsoon at 92% of the Long Period Average. It also highlighted a higher chance of below-normal and deficient rainfall. Yet the season brought mixed results. Some regions received heavy downpours. Meanwhile, other areas faced continued deficits.

India’s challenge has therefore shifted. The issue is no longer only water availability. It is now water variability. Rainfall patterns are changing, and water systems must adapt.

The effects reach far beyond farming. More than half of India’s net sown area still depends on rainfall. Delayed monsoons, long dry spells, and sudden heavy rain leave millions of farmers exposed. Cities face similar pressures. Intense short bursts of rain often overwhelm drainage systems. At the same time, they fail to refill reservoirs and groundwater adequately. Industries that rely on steady water supplies also face growing risks of disruption.

Scientific studies show that rainfall is becoming more erratic. Heavier rain events now alternate with longer dry periods. As a result, traditional water management methods grow less effective.

India has already shown that large-scale change is possible. The Jal Jeevan Mission raised rural tap water coverage from 16.7% in 2019 to over 80%. Focused policy, investment, and coordination delivered clear results. The next phase, however, must go further. It should build intelligent water systems that can anticipate and respond to unpredictable rainfall.

First, planners need to redesign water infrastructure. Most reservoirs and canals still follow historical averages. New systems should use probabilistic monsoon forecasts, seasonal climate outlooks, and predictive models. Storage plans and reservoir operations must work across multiple rainfall scenarios rather than one expected outcome.

Second, technology must play a larger role. AI-enabled reservoir management can release water ahead of heavy rain and conserve it during dry periods. Smart networks with digital sensors can detect leaks quickly and reduce losses. Data-driven decisions will matter as much as physical structures.

Third, water should be treated as a circular resource. Freshwater can serve drinking and agriculture needs. Treated wastewater can support industry, landscaping, and other non-drinking uses. Models such as the one in Nagpur already prove that reuse is both practical and economically sound.

Agriculture also needs stronger water efficiency. Wider use of micro-irrigation, precision farming, and crop choices matched to local water availability can raise productivity without higher demand. Linking these steps to weather forecasts and district-level water budgets will help farmers plan earlier.

Urban areas must capture rain more effectively. Stormwater should no longer be treated only as runoff. Expanded rainwater harvesting, restored lakes, stronger groundwater recharge, and local storage can keep more water in cities during intense rainfall.

Many of these solutions already exist in different states and sectors. The task now is to connect them under one clear framework that treats climate variability as the new normal. India’s water systems were built mainly to handle scarcity. They must now manage variability as well.

The focus can no longer stop at whether the monsoon was good or bad. Every season should leave the country better prepared for the next one. Initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission prove that large transformation is achievable. The next chapter should make every reservoir smarter, every city more efficient, and every drop of water serve more than one purpose. In an era of unpredictable rainfall, water security and economic resilience will depend less on how much rain falls and more on how well India manages each drop once it reaches the ground.