UNUSUAL SEPT RAIN SMASHES 19-YR RECORD

NEW DELHI: The Capital on Wednesday received 112.1mm of rain, within a span of 24 hours, to record the highest single day rainfall for the month of September in 19 years and the fifth highest for the month since 1963, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) records.

The intense rain showed no signs of abating and continued well into Wednesday morning, leading to widespread waterlogging on key stretches, residential colonies and lowlying areas.

The weather officials said the rainfall activity is likely to decrease from Thursday — they have forecast only light and scattered rain over the next two days. “The monsoon trough has shifted southwards again and is closer to Delhi, which combined with easterly winds blowing over the north-west region resulted in these heavy spells. Light rain may occur in parts of the city on September 2-3,” an IMD official said.

According to IMD, the Safdarjung station, considered representative for Delhi, received 112.1mm rain between 8.30am Tuesday and 8.30am Wednesday — the highest 24-hour rainfall in September since 2002. The last time it rained so much was on September 13, 2002, when Delhi got 126.8mm rain over 24 hours.

Experts said Safdarjung recorded another heavy spell of rain between 8.30am and 11.30am, measuring 75.6mm.

On Tuesday, too, Delhi received heavy rainfall measuring 84.1mm over six hours.

Delhi has been receiving short and intense spells of rain instead of being more uniformly distributed this season, which weather experts say is adversely affecting the ecology. The intense spells have covered the monthly rainfall deficit as well.

While August had ended with a monthly rainfall deficit of 13%, September has already recorded surplus rain on the first day of the month itself. August had received 214.5 mm rain against the normal reading of 247.7mm.