Delhi's heavy rain has broken all records this May, with the city experiencing its wettest May since weather tracking began in 1901. A powerful rain in Delhi on Sunday alone dumped 81.4 mm in just a few hours, pushing the month’s total rainfall to an all-time high. With roads waterlogged and trees uprooted, the intense weather surprised many Delhiites. Here's a closer look at what caused this historic rainfall and how it affected the city.

The rain in Delhi on Sunday, 25 May 2025, was nothing short of historic. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi received 81.4 mm of rain in just a few hours. This pushed the total rainfall in May to 186.4 mm, making it the highest ever recorded for the month since 1901. The previous record stood at 165 mm, set in May 2008.

This sudden and strong Delhi heavy rain also became the second-highest 24-hour rainfall in May. The only time more rain was recorded in a single day was on 20 May 2021, with 119.3 mm.

Severe Thunderstorm and Heavy Rainfall Uproot Trees Across Delhi | Credit: BCCL

The downpour started around 2 am and was accompanied by powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 82 kmph. These gusty winds caused severe damage across the city, including uprooted trees and travel disruption. Several flights at the Delhi airport were delayed or diverted due to poor visibility and wet conditions.

Within just 75 minutes, the temperature at Delhi’s Safdarjung observatory dropped dramatically—from 31°C to 21°C. This 10-degree fall was unusual for May, making the city feel much cooler than usual.

The maximum temperature on the same day was 31.6°C, which is nine degrees lower than the May average, and the minimum temperature fell to 19.8°C—seven degrees below normal.

Meteorologists explain that the heavy rain was the result of multiple weather systems working together. The main reasons behind this intense rain in Delhi include:

• A western disturbance over North Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir
• An upper air cyclonic circulation over Northwest Uttar Pradesh and North Haryana
• Another upper air cyclonic circulation over West Rajasthan
• Additionally, moist southeasterly winds mixed with dry westerly winds create the perfect conditions for heavy rainfall.

Sunday’s heavy showers caused widespread waterlogging in many parts of the capital. Residents woke up to flooded roads, traffic jams, and long power cuts in some areas. The sudden change in weather also affected morning flights and public transportation schedules.

Trees were uprooted in several places, damaging vehicles and blocking roads. Civic authorities were quick to respond, clearing the roads and restoring normalcy as fast as possible.

Although the IMD has not issued any red or orange alerts, it has predicted that rain in Delhi will continue through the week. Light rain, thunderstorms, and wind speeds up to 50 kmph are expected in the coming days.

So far this May, Delhi has also seen another heavy rainfall event on 2 May, when 77 mm of rain was recorded in a single day.

A Wet and Wild May in Delhi

This May has certainly surprised the people of Delhi with record-breaking showers and unusually cool temperatures. As the city continues to receive more Delhi heavy rain, experts are keeping a close eye on upcoming weather patterns. For now, Delhiites are advised to stay updated with IMD forecasts and take necessary precautions during this wet spell.

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