Fri Dec 27 15:26:44 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Bathed in Heaviest December Rainfall in 15 Years
**New Delhi, December [Date]** – Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced its heaviest December rainfall in 15 years on Friday, leading to waterlogging, traffic snarls, and a significant drop in temperature. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a total of 42.8 mm of rainfall, surpassing the previous 15-year high. The city’s primary weather station, Safdarjung, recorded 30.2 mm of rainfall alone between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, adding to the 9.1 mm recorded in the previous 24 hours. This surpasses the 33.9 mm recorded in December 2019, which was previously the second highest in the last 15 years. While the all-time December high remains 134.4 mm in 1884, Friday’s downpour marked a stark contrast to recent years, which saw minimal or trace rainfall.
The heavy rain, attributed to an active western disturbance and easterly winds, caused disruptions across the city. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi received 13 complaints, primarily for waterlogging and fallen trees. The mercury plummeted to a low of 9.5 degrees Celsius, the lowest maximum temperature in five years, a significant drop from Thursday’s 24.1 degrees Celsius.
The IMD forecasts a generally cloudy sky with intermittent rain for Saturday, with light rain expected in the early morning and forenoon. Air quality also deteriorated, with the 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 353 by Friday afternoon, placing several areas in the “very poor” and one in the “severe” category. The department predicts maximum and minimum temperatures of 15 and 12 degrees Celsius respectively for Saturday.
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