Delhi weather: Why IMD keeps predicting rain but the heat won't quit

Despite new satellites, powerful models and 150 years of legacy, IMD often still fails to tell us when it's going to rain

On paper, Delhi was supposed to have a “pleasant day” on Tuesday (May 20). The India Meteorological Department had issued a yellow alert — thunderstorms, dust storms, some strong surface winds, maybe a touch of lightning. But as any Delhiite could tell you, the city felt more like a 'tandoor.' A blazing, suffocating heat wrapped the capital, and even the winds did little more than shuffle around the hot air.

 

Pleasant? Not by a long stretch.

 

It’s not just a one-off mistake either. Time and again, the IMD has struggled to forecast Delhi’s weather with any meaningful accuracy. From missing sudden storms that blow roofs off metro stations to underestimating rainfall that paralyses entire cities, India’s official weather agency finds itself repeatedly caught off guard.