Delhi-NCR rain alert today as IMD warns of more showers

Delhi-NCR is braced for another wet day on September 5 as the India Meteorological Department maintains rain warnings for the region, a day after intense showers triggered waterlogging, flight disruptions and widespread traffic snarls across the National Capital Region.

IMD forecast points to continued rain over Delhi-NCR today

Forecast bulletins from the India Meteorological Department for Delhi and adjoining areas indicate that the active monsoon spell is set to continue through Saturday, September 5. Sub-division warnings for Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi show a heavy rain signal for the region, following an already rain-soaked Friday across the capital and its suburbs.

Local city forecasts for multiple stations in the capital, including the Ridge, Narela and Lodi Road observatories, describe a generally cloudy sky with moderate rain today, along with thunderstorms and lightning at intervals through the morning, afternoon and evening. The forecasts also show relative humidity staying elevated, with minimum temperatures around the low to mid-20s Celsius and maximums likely capped below the usual early-September averages.

According to published coverage summarising the IMD outlook, the broader Haryana–Chandigarh–Delhi belt remains under a rain warning for Saturday, with light to moderate showers expected at many locations and heavier pockets possible in parts of the wider NCR. While the overall intensity is projected to ease from Sunday, the department’s seven-day warning grid still highlights the need for caution on September 5 and 6 before a return to quieter conditions later next week.

Weather observers tracking the system over north-central India note that the current spell is linked to an active monsoon disturbance that has helped generate repeated bursts of heavy rain over Delhi-NCR since Friday afternoon. Updates shared by independent forecasters through the day on Friday pointed to moderate to heavy rain bands moving across the region and flagged the likelihood of further showers spilling into the early hours and daytime on Saturday.

Friday’s downpour leaves airport, key roads waterlogged

The alert for more rain today follows a disruptive 24 hours for Delhi-NCR. On Friday, a spell of heavy rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon quickly translated into waterlogging at several locations, including the Indira Gandhi International Airport and major traffic corridors in the NCR cities.

Reports from national media outlets describe scenes of ankle-deep water at parts of Delhi airport’s terminal area after just about an hour of intense rain on Friday. Visuals circulated widely on news platforms showed passengers wheeling trolleys through flooded sections as ground staff worked to manage the situation. Coverage indicates that at least nine to eleven flights were diverted to cities such as Jaipur, Lucknow and Ahmedabad during a particularly intense window, with many more arrivals and departures experiencing delays stretching up to an hour or more.

Beyond the airport, Friday’s rain also flooded several arterial roads. In Gurugram, local reporting notes that a short but intense spell in the afternoon left key stretches such as IFFCO Chowk, DLF Phase 2, Udyog Vihar, Civil Lines and areas around major metro stations under water. Similar complaints came in from parts of Noida and Ghaziabad, where underpasses and low-lying stretches were reported to be slow-moving or gridlocked as evening peak traffic coincided with the heaviest showers.

Commuters described long tailbacks and extended travel times across multiple corridors of the region. Publicly available information compiled from municipal and traffic updates suggests that even after the heaviest rain passed, residual waterlogging persisted into the evening on several routes, especially around underpasses, construction bottlenecks and poorly drained junctions.

Monsoon dynamics behind the heavy spell

Meteorological discussions point to a well-marked low-pressure area over parts of central India interacting with monsoon winds as a key driver of the current wet phase in Delhi-NCR. The system has been feeding moisture-laden winds toward north India, which, combined with local instability, has resulted in multiple rounds of thunderstorms and heavy showers across the region.

According to publicly available IMD commentary cited in national coverage, this setup has helped sustain an active monsoon pattern over the Haryana–Delhi belt since Friday. The same system has also contributed to significant rainfall over other northern and central states. For Delhi in particular, seasonal data shared in recent weather reports show that the city’s monsoon rainfall this year has already surpassed its long-period average for August, underlining how vigorous the current season has been.

The local city forecasts for individual observatories in the capital for September 5 underline the influence of this pattern. Several points in Delhi are projected to see a full day of cloud cover with repeated thunderstorm activity and light to moderate rain, and the potential for heavier spells at times. The forecast also indicates high morning humidity percentages, which, combined with saturated ground conditions from Friday’s downpour, increase the risk of standing water and slow drainage.

Weather watchers following radar and model guidance anticipate that while the most intense convection may be shorter-lived than on Friday, the cumulative impact of back-to-back wet days can still be significant for surface transport and low-lying neighbourhoods across the NCR.

Waterlogging, flight delays and traffic disruption likely again

With the IMD maintaining rain warnings for Saturday and local forecasts pointing to widespread showers, agencies and commuters across Delhi-NCR are preparing for another day of possible interruptions. The combination of saturated drains, partially flooded stretches and the chance of renewed spells of intense rain means that waterlogging at familiar trouble spots remains a realistic risk through the day.

Reports compiled overnight from the airport operator and aviation trackers suggest that while standing water at the IGI Airport was gradually brought under control after Friday’s deluge, many flights continued to face knock-on delays into the night. Given the forecast for more rain and low clouds at times, airlines are advising passengers through their official channels to monitor flight status closely and allow extra time for journeys to the terminals.

Traffic in the wider NCR also appears vulnerable to further disruption today. Coverage from Gurgaon and other satellite cities notes that even a relatively brief spell of heavy rain on Friday was sufficient to flood multiple major junctions and lead to bottlenecks around metro stations, commercial districts and underpasses. With more showers expected, travel-time reliability on key corridors such as the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, Noida Link Road and key ring-road segments is likely to remain under pressure.

Publicly available advisories linked to earlier heavy-rain events in Delhi-NCR emphasise routine precautions for such conditions, including avoiding waterlogged underpasses where possible, checking route conditions before setting out, and being prepared for slower traffic during peak periods. For early-morning airport runs or intercity departures, residents are being encouraged via local updates to build in buffer time, given the experience of widespread delays on Friday.

Brief respite expected after the weekend

While the focus today remains on managing immediate impacts, the medium-range outlook offers some relief for Delhi-NCR. IMD warning charts for the Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi subdivision show a step-down in alerts after the weekend, with heavy-rain signals easing off from Sunday and subsequent days featuring only light rain or drizzle at isolated places.

Local forecasts for New Delhi observatories reflect this trend, indicating that after Saturday’s cloudy and wet conditions, the sky is likely to turn partly cloudy from early next week, with only sporadic light showers possible. Maximum temperatures are projected to recover toward the low-to-mid 30s Celsius, while minimum temperatures should remain relatively comfortable in the low-to-mid 20s.

For now, however, the combination of an active monsoon disturbance, saturated ground and lingering infrastructure vulnerabilities means that the immediate weather story for September 5 is still one of caution. With more rain on the cards, Delhi-NCR residents, air travelers and road commuters alike are being urged through various public channels to stay updated on the evolving situation and factor in the possibility of renewed waterlogging, flight delays and traffic snarls as the weekend unfolds.

India Meteorological Department: Sub-division warnings for Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi

IMD local forecast and warnings for New Delhi (Ridge observatory)

India Today: Heavy rain and thunderstorms lash Delhi-NCR, IMD forecasts more rain

Hindustan Times: IMD red alert in Delhi for heavy rain, severe waterlogging at IGI Airport

Times of India: Short spell of heavy rain floods key roads in Gurgaon, more rain likely today