Is Delhi’s monsoon finally here? Heavy rains hit the capital as orange alert is issued

Heavy rain poured over parts of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) on Saturday evening, with more moderate to heavy showers expected in the coming hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. This rainfall likely marks the long-awaited arrival of the monsoon in the city.
Although the official announcement of the monsoon’s onset is still pending, the weather department has issued warnings of heavy rain along with thunderstorms and strong winds. An orange alert has been issued for Southeast and Southwest Delhi, while a yellow alert remains in effect for other parts of the city.
Areas expecting heavy showers include Indira Gandhi International Airport, Rajiv Chowk, ITO, India Gate, Lajpat Nagar, Hauz Khas, and other parts of Delhi, as well as nearby NCR locations such as Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Safdarjung.
Residents had been facing hot, sunny, and humid conditions for weeks due to a delay in the monsoon. The delay was caused by an anti-cyclonic circulation in the mid and upper atmosphere over Delhi and surrounding areas, which blocked the northward movement of the monsoon trough. This system prevented moisture-laden winds from reaching the region.
The long-period average (LPA) date for the monsoon’s arrival in Delhi is June 27. Last year, the monsoon arrived on June 28—just a day later than average. In 2023 it came on June 25, in 2022 on June 30, and as late as July 13 in 2021, according to the IMD.