At least four people were killed as an intense Delhi rainstorm pounded Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) early on May 2, 2025. There were reports of extensive waterlogging around the city and the cancellation of over 100 flights. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that during the 24 hours between 8:30 am on May 1 and 8:30 am on May 2, the Safdarjung observatory recorded 153.7 mm of rainfall. The Lodhi Road observatory registered 78 mm during the same period.

On May 2, however, most of the precipitation fell in a concentrated burst between 5:15 and 8:30 a.m. Strong gusty winds reaching 70 to 100 km/h accompanied the storm. In some areas of Delhi, these winds caused infrastructural damage and the uprooting of several trees.

Meteorological Triggers: Cyclonic Activity and Western Disturbance

On April 30, the IMD predicted that an impending western disturbance across northwest India would influence the area beginning on May 2. Between April 30 and May 5, “isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorm, lightning & strong winds speed reaching 40–60 kmph” was forecasted across Delhi and the neighboring states, according to the agency’s press release.

Western disturbances are extratropical storms originating in the Mediterranean that bring about major pre-monsoon weather shifts. Additionally, the IMD detected two cyclonic circulations on May 1: one over southeast Rajasthan and another over southwest Rajasthan, which intensified storm activity over Delhi.

Cyclonic circulations can cause storms in the lower atmosphere by spiraling winds in the mid-to-upper atmospheric layers. Experts believe that these three interrelated processes, along with localized surface warmth and humidity levels, contributed to the formation of the Delhi rainstorm.

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Global Climate Drivers and Atmospheric Interactions

Climatologist Raghu Murtugudde observed that an anticyclone over the Arabian Sea, which lingered for weeks, gave the storm additional force. He noted that cross-equatorial winds on the eastern side of the Arabian Sea circulation created another anticyclone over the east coast of India.

These anticyclonic systems likely exacerbated the storm’s dynamics. Furthermore, in 2025, stronger easterly winds and potentially heavier monsoons are predicted due to the ongoing neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phase, which is trending toward La Niña.

According to IMD estimates, Delhi may experience more rain in the coming days.

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