On September 1st 2021, New Delhi recorded the highest single day rainfall in about 2 decades - 112.1mm. The highest rainfall recorded in the national capital is 172.6mm on September 16th 1963.
The city received rainfall just as schools had reopened 17 months after COVID restrictions. The rainfall led to water-logging in several parts of the city leading to severe traffic jams. On an average, Delhi receives 125.1mm of rainfall in September every year. So 90% of the month’s quota has been fulfilled in 2 days. IMD has said it was not possible to make precise predictions for a smaller area like Delhi. But experts say that monsoon patterns are changing due to climate change. While the number of rainy days has reduced, intense rainfall is being recorded in short periods of time - as less as 24 hours. Adjoining areas of Delhi like Faridabad, Manesar, Hissar and Meerut also received heavy rainfall till early morning on September 2.
