Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) experienced an unexpected spell of rainfall early Friday, catching residents off guard and intensifying the ongoing cold wave.
Despite the showers, air quality continued to deteriorate, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the ‘very poor’ category.
Dark clouds enveloped the city before rainfall began around 6 AM in multiple areas. Initially moderate to heavy, the rain later turned light, accompanied by cold northwesterly winds that deepened the winter chill.
Gurugram also witnessed rainfall, despite no official precipitation warnings being issued for the city.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts that Delhi’s minimum temperature will hover around 5 degrees Celsius, while the maximum will reach between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius.
On Thursday, the Safdarjung weather station recorded a minimum of 5.8 degrees Celsius, nearly one degree below the seasonal average, marking the coldest day of the winter so far. Lodhi Road recorded a similar low of 6.1 degrees Celsius.
Air Quality Remains Hazardous
Although rainfall typically helps disperse pollutants, Delhi’s air quality showed little improvement. At 8 AM, the AQI stood at approximately 321, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category.
Monitoring stations across the capital recorded alarming levels: Anand Vihar registered 385, Bawana 276, Chandni Chowk 335, Dwarka 346, and ITO 307.
Other areas included Jahangirpuri at 340, Mundka at 326, Wazirpur at 336, and Vivek Vihar at 368. The IGI Airport fared slightly better at 252.
Neighbouring NCR cities also struggled. Ghaziabad’s AQI stood at 286, Noida at 370, and Gurugram ranged between 238 and 385 across different locations.
Palam was the coldest station on Thursday, with a minimum temperature of 4.8 degrees Celsius, while Ridge and Ayanagar both recorded 5.8 degrees Celsius.
The IMD has warned that cold and dense fog conditions are likely to persist across northern and central India, with heavy rain expected in southern regions.
Over the next three to four days, minimum temperatures in Delhi are unlikely to change significantly. Light to moderate morning fog is expected, with partly cloudy conditions in some areas between 10 and 12 January.
With no major western disturbance or rainfall forecast, residents can expect cold conditions and persistent pollution to continue affecting daily life.
Also Read: Delhi’s Air Quality Improves To ‘Poor’ As City Shivers Under Cold Wave
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