Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Delhi-NCR braces for heavy rain ahead of Independence Day
Weather scientists in India are telling everyone that it will rain a lot in and around Delhi in the next few days.
The rain will come with thunder, dark clouds and strong winds, and it could keep raining until at least August 19.
This is happening because a special rainy-weather line called a monsoon trough has come close to Delhi, and another storm near the coast is helping push more rain toward the north.
The scientists also sent out a 'red alert', which is their biggest warning, because some places could get extremely heavy rain.
On Saturday, when India celebrates Independence Day with a big flag ceremony at the Red Fort, the sky will be cloudy and a little rain might fall, but the ceremony should still go on.
Rain was already starting to fall across the city on Friday morning.
The rain also helped clean the air a little, though one weather report says the air is still not very clean.
A saying goes that some places in the city got measured rainfall of just a few millimetres, which is not very much at all.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast intermittent to heavy showers, thunderstorms and gusty winds across Delhi-NCR, with wet weather expected to continue until at least August 19.
The rain is driven by an active monsoon trough near the National Capital Region and a low-pressure system near the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast.
The IMD issued a 'red alert' for many areas in Delhi, denoting extremely heavy rainfall of more than 204 mm in 24 hours.
Light rainfall was recorded at most Delhi stations in the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Friday, with Ridge receiving 7.6 mm, followed by Safdarjung (3.3 mm), Palam (3.0 mm) and Lodhi Road (1.1 mm); Ayanagar recorded no rain.
Ahead of the rain Delhi's overall AQI stood at 264 ('poor' category), while a separate report said the AQI improved to 'satisfactory' at 100 by 1 pm.
- Who
- India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasters, Delhi-NCR residents and official organizers of the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort
- What
- Widespread heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds across Delhi-NCR, with a red alert for extremely heavy rain and cloudy conditions expected for Independence Day
- When
- From Friday, August 14, with wet conditions expected to continue until at least August 19
- Where
- Delhi-NCR, including Delhi, Haryana and Punjab, with the Red Fort in Delhi hosting flag-hoisting on Independence Day
- Why
- An active monsoon trough near the National Capital Region and a low-pressure system near the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast are creating conditions conducive to persistent rain
- Weather agency
- India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- Forecast start
- August 14
- Rain expected until
- At least August 19
- Affected regions
- Delhi, Haryana, Punjab
- Red alert
- Issued for many Delhi areas; denotes over 204 mm rain in 24 hours
- Independence Day outlook
- Partly cloudy skies over Red Fort; light rain or brief showers possible, no major disruption expected
- Recorded rain (24h to 8.30 am)
- Ridge 7.6 mm, Safdarjung 3.3 mm, Palam 3.0 mm, Lodhi Road 1.1 mm; Ayanagar nil
- Air quality
- Overall AQI 264 ('poor') before rain; later reported at AQI 100 ('satisfactory') at 1 pm
