Super El NIno: The Reason for Unusual Rains in Delhi, several parts of North India
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Delhi-NCR witnessed heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning on October 12, days after the monsoon withdrew. An active Western Disturbance and unusual atmospheric conditions triggered the unexpected rainfall.
The rain began the previous night, catching residents across Delhi and nearby areas off guard. Experts say the developing El Nino could add to unpredictable weather patterns across India.
How Super El Nino Could Affect India
Professor Gufran Beig of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and founder-director of SAFAR, said the developing El Nino was unusually strong and could affect weather conditions across India.
He linked the 2026 monsoon season’s rainfall deficit of around 13% to broader climate conditions. Beig said Pacific Ocean temperatures had risen by 3.2 degrees Celsius and could reach 3.5 degrees Celsius within two months.
He expects a relatively mild winter, but warned of sudden and unpredictable temperature changes.
Western Disturbance Behind Delhi Rain
An active Western Disturbance over northern India interacted with warm, humid air over the Delhi-NCR region, triggering heavy showers and thunderstorms.
Beig said unusual wind patterns had kept the upper atmosphere warmer than usual. The arrival of the Western Disturbance brought colder conditions, which interacted with warm, moisture-filled air to produce sudden rainfall.
Such weather changes can occur even after the southwest monsoon has withdrawn.
IMD Warns of More Rain and Thunderstorms
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast cloudy skies and light to moderate rain in Delhi, with temperatures between 31 and 35 degrees Celsius.
Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab were expected to receive scattered rainfall on October 12 and 13, followed by widespread rain on October 14 and 15. Thunderstorms, lightning, winds of 40–50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph, and isolated hailstorms were also forecast.
Parts of Jammu and Kashmir received very heavy rainfall of 12–20 cm in the preceding 24 hours. Heavy rain was also recorded in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Haryana, while Uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh experienced isolated hailstorms.
Rain Forecast Across India
Uttarakhand is expected to receive rain from October 12 to 18. Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh are also likely to experience rainfall.
The Northeast Monsoon is expected to begin over southern India within two to three days. Heavy rain is forecast in parts of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and coastal Andhra Pradesh over the following days.
Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and the north-eastern states are also likely to receive intermittent rain through October 18.
Meanwhile, the IMD said conditions were becoming favourable for the southwest monsoon to withdraw from the remaining parts of the country, even as other weather systems continued to bring rain to several regions.
