Residents of the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) woke up to a rainy and cloudy Friday morning, with moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in several areas.
The sudden weather change is expected to bring a sharp drop in temperatures. This will intensify the winter chill across the region, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Weather Alerts and Temperature Dip
The IMD has issued an orange alert for thunderstorms and rain in Delhi-NCR, as well as parts of neighbouring Punjab and Haryana. The weather activity is attributed to an active western disturbance affecting northwestern India.
Delhi also faces a yellow alert. Meteorologists expect one or two spells of light rain, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 30–40 kmph during the early morning to forenoon hours. Another spell of light rain is likely later in the day.
The sudden weather shift follows Thursday’s record-breaking warmth, with the city registering 27.1 degrees Celsius, its highest January temperature in seven years. On Friday, the maximum temperature is expected to fall to around 19 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature may hover near 12 degrees Celsius.
Despite rainfall providing temporary relief, air quality continues to be a major concern. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) show only marginal improvement. The monitoring agencies recorded Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 302, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category.
Among the worst-affected areas in Delhi were Bawana (342), Ashok Vihar (335), Chandni Chowk (326), Alipur (322), Anand Vihar (317) and the DTU area (312).
In the NCR, Ghaziabad reported AQIs of 267 in Indirapuram and 290 in Sanjay Nagar, while Loni experienced severe pollution at 390. Noida’s AQI ranged from 249 in Sector 62 to 319 in Sector 125.
Some localities did see air quality improve from the red zone to orange, offering limited respite. Weather experts noted that rainfall and strong winds would significantly reduce daytime temperatures. This means the cold is likely to feel more intense even if minimum temperatures do not fall sharply.
Also Read: Delhi Grapples With ‘Very Poor’ Air Quality As AQI Hits 377
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