Delhi-NCR Wakes To Cool, Cloudy Weather As AQI Remains Satisfactory

Delhi-NCR residents woke to cool, cloudy weather on Monday as breezy conditions brought relief from the recent heat.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast partly cloudy skies in Delhi, with the maximum temperature likely to reach 31-33 degrees Celsius and the minimum settling between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius.

The IMD also forecast isolated rainfall in Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh and Punjab. Mainly dry weather is expected from September 29 to October 3.

Overnight rain and cloudy conditions lowered temperatures across the capital. Delhi recorded a minimum of 21 degrees Celsius, around 2.9 degrees below normal.

The IMD said this was the lowest September minimum since 2000, when the city recorded 20.6 degrees Celsius on September 29.

The Delhi Ridge recorded a lower minimum of 16.8 degrees Celsius on September 27, marking the lowest temperature in the plains that day.

Rainfall also improved Delhi’s air quality. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 53 on Sunday, placing it in the ‘satisfactory’ category. This was Delhi’s second-lowest AQI this year after 48 on July 9.

Delhi’s overall AQI stood at 66 on Monday, remaining in the satisfactory category. NSUT Jaffarpur recorded an AQI of 37, followed by Burari Crossing at 39, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at 45 and Okhla Phase-2 at 52.

Meanwhile, the IMD issued heavy rain alerts for Uttarakhand, South Interior Karnataka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds forecast in several states.

Uttarakhand may receive intense showers, raising the risk of landslides, waterlogging and traffic disruptions. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh may see thunderstorms and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph, along with isolated rainfall.

Also Read: Delhi-NCR Weather: IMD Forecasts Rain, Thunderstorms Over Next 2-3 Days