If you got wet on your way to work this morning, you were not imagining the reprieve.

Delhi has been under a yellow alert since Monday, and the city's skies have stayed generally cloudy through the day, exactly as forecast.

SO WILL IT RAIN IN DELHI TONIGHT?

According to the IMD's forecast on July 21, Delhi was supposed to receive one or two spells of very light to light rain during the morning to noon window.

This has already played out in several localities.

Commuters carry umbrellas as IMD forecasts another spell of rain this evening. (Photo: PTI)

A second spell of very light to light rain is expected at a few places during the evening to night. So the short answer is yes, but do not expect a downpour.

Think intermittent drizzle rather than a cloudburst.

WHY DOES DELHI KEEP GETTING THESE SPLIT RAIN SPELLS?

This is a hallmark of what meteorologists call the monsoon trough, an elongated belt of low pressure that runs roughly from Rajasthan towards the Bay of Bengal.

When this trough sits over the plains, as it does now, moist winds from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea converge over North India.

A cyclist rides through rain in Delhi on July 21, 2026, as the city's yellow alert stays in force. (Photo: PTI)

That moist air is forced upward, cools, and condenses into rain-bearing clouds.

But the trough's exact position shifts through the day, which is why the rain over Delhi tends to arrive in short bursts rather than one continuous spell.

WHY HAS IMD ISSUED A YELLOW ALERT?

A yellow alert is the IMD's mildest colour-coded warning.

It simply means people should stay aware, since isolated pockets of Delhi-NCR could see heavier bursts, gusty winds and lightning even while the wider forecast stays "light to moderate."

It is a heads-up, not an emergency.

HOW HOT WILL IT FEEL BETWEEN SHOWERS?

Humidity has stayed high through the day, often above 80 per cent, which is why the air has felt heavier than the thermometer alone would suggest.

Expect that mugginess to persist through the evening, easing only once the next spell of rain actually falls.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Carry an umbrella if you are stepping out this evening.

Waterlogging in low-lying stretches and reduced visibility during any heavier bursts remain the main things to watch for, rather than a citywide deluge.

- Ends

Published By:

Radifah Kabir

Published On:

Jul 21, 2026 17:14 IST