Why IMD issued a fresh yellow alert

Delhi and the wider NCR are in for another wet spell. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has kept a fresh yellow alert in place for the next two days as the city deals with persistent showers, choppy winds, and swollen drains. The alert comes after a brief period of red and orange warnings earlier, which were downgraded once the immediate threat eased—but the message stays clear: stay cautious.

So what’s driving the rain? IMD flagged sustained south-easterly winds over the past 24 hours, clocking up to 15 kmph with gusts around 30 kmph. Meteorologists say the broader setup is a familiar monsoon trio—moisture-heavy easterlies, an active monsoon trough near north India, and a passing western disturbance adding lift to the system. Together, they are keeping cloud cover thick and showers frequent across the capital.

The numbers tell their own story. The Yamuna has stayed above the evacuation mark for a second straight day, pushing authorities to keep low-lying areas on watch. On the roads, rising water levels have slowed traffic to a crawl along the Outer Ring Road—from Majnu Ka Tila to Salimgarh Bypass—prompting detours and a steady stream of advisories from Delhi Police. If you have to cross the corridor, plan extra time or pick another route.

At the airport, long lines and longer waits. Operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport have taken a hit, with delays affecting up to 273 departures and 73 arrivals. A key stretch near IGI remains flooded, feeding gridlock across the wider Aerocity-Gurugram belt. Several arterial roads in Gurugram are waterlogged too, slowing buses, cabs, and office commutes.

There’s a silver lining: the air. Despite the rain chaos, Delhi’s air quality sits in the ‘satisfactory’ bracket with an AQI of 57, helped by washout conditions. Temperatures have dipped as well—Monday’s maximum settled at 32.3°C, about 1.8°C below normal, while the minimum slid to 22.8°C, roughly 2.8°C under the seasonal average. Expect the cloudy, muggy feel to persist.

Impact on roads, flights and what you should do

IMD expects a generally cloudy sky through the week with one or two spells of very light to light rain or thunderstorms on most days. There’s a chance of moderate showers at isolated spots on Friday. Rainy conditions are likely to hold through September 7, with the cloud cover hanging around until September 9. For NCR—Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gurugram—an orange alert is in place, which means be prepared for heavy rain and waterlogging.

What does yellow vs orange mean for you? A yellow alert is a heads-up to stay aware and plan. Orange is a step up—prepare for disruptions and follow official advisories closely. With the Yamuna running high and storm drains under pressure, even a short, intense burst can flood underpasses and low-lying roads.

Here’s how to navigate the next 48 hours without getting stuck:

• Check routes before you leave. Avoid the Outer Ring Road stretch from Majnu Ka Tila to Salimgarh Bypass and any underpasses you know tend to flood.
• Flying out or meeting someone at IGI? Track your flight status and give yourself extra time. Consider the Metro if road access near the airport is choked.
• Park on higher ground. Don’t leave vehicles in basements or near open drains.
• Keep electronics and documents away from floor level if you live in ground-floor units in flood-prone colonies.
• If you must drive through standing water, go slow and steady. If the water is above the wheel hub, turn around.

City agencies are keeping pumps and teams on standby as fresh showers pass through. Expect intermittent diversions and slow-moving traffic where water accumulates. If you live near the floodplains, keep an eye on civic updates and avoid riverbanks for now.

For the rest of the week, the pattern looks sticky: cloudy skies, on-and-off showers, and brief thundershowers in pockets. The heat stays in check, the humidity stays high, and the risk of waterlogging remains. If your plans are flexible, work from home on the rainiest spells. If not, buffer your commute, carry a rain jacket instead of an umbrella in windy patches, and build in time for delays.

Monsoon in the capital is always a balancing act. The rain is welcome for reservoirs and air quality, but it tests drainage and traffic every time a strong cell parks over the city. With an active setup and easterly winds feeding moisture in, two more days of Delhi rains looks like a safe bet—follow the alerts, and you’ll avoid most of the hassles.