Delhi-NCR was battered by a spell of heavy monsoon rain on Friday, August 7, flooding roads, disrupting traffic and leaving several parts of the region waterlogged.
The downpour brought a temporary break from the humid conditions but also put the city's drainage network under pressure.
Several parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) reported waterlogging as rain persisted through the day amid an active phase of the southwest monsoon over north India.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rainfall was recorded at many places throughout Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 am on August 8.
The intense spell also set a notable rainfall record.
Palam recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall for the month of August since 2007, according to the initial rainfall assessment.
Delhi has also had an unusually wet start to August.
The capital received 127 mm of rain between August 1 and 7, making it the wettest first week of August since 2011.
WHAT CAUSED HEAVY RAIN IN DELHI-NCR?
The intense spell was driven by a combination of weather systems over northern India.
The IMD said the monsoon trough was running through Ganganagar, Delhi and a low-pressure area over southwest Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas before extending towards the Bay of Bengal.
The low-pressure area was supported by an associated cyclonic circulation extending up to about 4.5 km above sea level.
Adding to all of this was a western disturbance that was also persisting over northwest India.
Together, these systems created favourable conditions for the movement of moisture and the development of widespread rain across the northern plains.
The IMD recorded heavy rainfall at isolated places over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during the latest observation period, highlighting the strength of the spell.
WILL DELHI GET MORE RAIN TODAY?
Delhi is expected to remain cloudy and wet on Saturday, August 8, although the intensity is likely to be lower than Friday's downpour.
The IMD has forecast fairly widespread rainfall over Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on Saturday.
However, isolated heavy rainfall is not specifically forecast over Delhi for the day.
The active monsoon pattern is expected to keep parts of north India under rain in the coming days, even as the particularly intense spell that drenched Delhi-NCR on Friday gradually weakens.