The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 18.7°C at Safdarjung station, 2.3°C below normal, as dark clouds swelled over Delhi and its hinterland on Monday, Oct 11.
The rainfall coincided with the departure of the southwest monsoon, yet three atmospheric features kept the sky wet. A low‑pressure trough stretched from northwest Rajasthan to northeast Madhya Pradesh, while another ran from a cyclonic circulation over central Pakistan toward north Madhya Pradesh. A western disturbance from the Mediterranean supplied extra moisture, a pattern familiar to winter rains but now spilling into October.
IMD’s October 11 bulletin warned that isolated to scattered showers would persist across Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi through Oct 15, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds likely from Oct 12 to 15.
In response, the Delhi Municipal Corporation has urged tourists and businesses to postpone outdoor activities, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised helicopter operators to limit flights in the region.
Rajesh Kumar, a 45‑year‑old bus driver from Dwarka, told reporters he had to abandon a weekend trip for his family after the sudden downpour, citing unsafe roads and flooding.
A weather advisory will be issued by the authorities on Friday, outlining safe travel routes and the expected end of the rain spell.