Western disturbance returns: Delhi-NCR gets rain after monsoon withdrawal

The monsoon may have officially left Delhi, but the rain clearly has not.

Delhi-NCR was greeted by rain showers on Saturday, September 26, with cloudy skies, thunderstorms and gusty winds marking a distinctly monsoon-like day in the capital region.

This comes just three days after the southwest monsoon officially withdrew from Delhi, two days ahead of its normal date of September 25.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast fairly widespread rainfall across Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh on September 26 and 27, with rain activity likely to continue in a weaker form on September 28. An overcast sky is seen in Delhi on Saturday, September 26, morning. (Photo: X/@ThunderWildWx)

The current spell is being fuelled by the interaction of two weather systems.

A depression over northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining north Chhattisgarh is moving north-northwestwards towards southeast Uttar Pradesh.

At the same time, a weak Western Disturbance, which is a weather system moving eastwards in the middle levels of the atmosphere, is present over northern India.

Their interaction is helping pull moisture into the region and trigger clouds, showers and thunderstorms across parts of north India.

The effect is particularly strong over Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where the IMD has forecast much heavier rainfall over the coming days. A view of Delhi's skies after isolated showers were experienced in the capital. (Photo: X) MONSOON RETREATING BUT RAIN DOESN'T STOP

The withdrawal of the southwest monsoon is a gradual process, not an instant switch from rainy to dry weather.

The IMD declares further withdrawal only when rainfall remains absent for five consecutive days, moisture levels fall and the atmospheric circulation changes.

That is why fresh weather systems can still produce rain even after the withdrawal line has moved past a region.

In fact, the withdrawal line currently passes through parts of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Yet the interaction of the depression and Western Disturbance has temporarily kept the atmosphere over north India wet and unstable.

For Delhi-NCR, the rain is expected to ease after September 28, with drier weather likely to return towards the end of the month.- Ends