Archive · 14 Aug 2026
IMD Predicts Rain May Dampen Delhi Independence Day Celebrations
India is getting ready to celebrate its Independence Day on August 15.
A special ceremony happens at the Red Fort in Delhi.
The weather experts, from the India Meteorological Department, shared their forecast for that day.
They say the sky will be cloudy and it might rain.
In the early morning, there is a 70 out of 100 chance of light rain.
More light rain could fall between 6 am and 9 am.
There is also a chance of rain in the afternoon and evening.
Another weather expert, Mahesh Palawat from Skymet Weather, thinks rain could start the night before.
The rain is happening because the monsoon winds are close to Delhi.
So people going to the celebrations should be ready with umbrellas!
The IMD has forecast generally cloudy skies with spells of very light to light rainfall in Delhi on August 15, India's 80th Independence Day.
There is a 70% chance of around 5 mm of rain between 4 am and 6 am, and a 60% chance of around 5 mm between 6 am and 9 am.
A third spell of very light rain is expected from afternoon to evening with a 60% probability and around 3 mm of rainfall.
Skymet Weather's Mahesh Palawat said rainfall could begin on the night of August 14 and continue into the morning of August 15.
Delhi recorded heavy rain on Friday morning, prompting the weather agency to issue a red alert for many areas.
- Who
- The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which issued the forecast, and Mahesh Palawat, a meteorologist at Skymet Weather.
- What
- A forecast of cloudy skies and spells of very light to light rainfall in Delhi on the 80th Independence Day, which could affect the celebrations.
- When
- August 15 (Independence Day), with rain possibly starting the night of August 14 and rainfall conditions continuing until August 19.
- Where
- Delhi, the national capital, including the Red Fort where Independence Day celebrations are held.
- Why
- An active monsoon, with the monsoon trough expected to move northwestwards and a low-pressure area developing over southeast Uttar Pradesh and northern Chhattisgarh.
- Forecast agency
- India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- Event
- 80th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, Delhi
- Sky condition
- Generally cloudy with very light to light rainfall
- Rain chance (4-6 am)
- 70%, around 5 mm
- Rain chance (6-9 am)
- 60%, around 5 mm
- Rain chance (afternoon-evening)
- 60%, around 3 mm
- Rainfall likely until
- August 19
- Skymet outlook
- Rain may begin on the night of August 14