Extreme events in the capital: Data

With the wettest-ever June day and hottest-ever May day, an unusual spate of maximal weather has roiled Delhi

In the past two months, Delhi has witnessed two extreme weather events: days of unrelenting heat in May followed by heavy rains in June. The capital also experienced the hottest-ever nights in June and year-round pollution, making it a tough year.

On June 28, the much-awaited arrival of the south-west monsoon turned into a nightmare when houses and streets got flooded. At least five people lost their lives, including a taxi driver who died when a canopy at the airport collapsed on him. According to the India Meteorological Department’s gridded data, the city received the highest-ever rainfall for a day in June (150.7 mm) since 1951 (Chart 1) . The previous high for a day in June was 97.3 mm of rainfall — over 50mm lower than the latest record — which occurred on June 30, 1981.

Chart 1 | The chart shows the daily rainfall received by Delhi on every June day since 1951. Each dot corresponds to rainfall recorded in each June day between 1951 and 2024.

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Just a month earlier, Delhi was sweltering under record-breaking heat. A report by a non-profit organisation, Centre for Holistic Development, stated that 192 homeless people died due to a heatwave in the capital (June 11-19). In May and June this year, for 38 consecutive days, the city’s maximum temperatures crossed the 40°C mark. On May 28, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 47.5°C, the highest-ever for a day in May in the capital since 1951 (Chart 2) . The second-highest (47.3°C) was recorded on May 29, the next day.

Chart 2 | The chart shows the daily maximum temperature in Delhi on every May day since 1951. Each dot corresponds to maximum temperature recorded in each May day between 1951 and 2024.

Also read: Reign of fire: On Delhi and the high heat