Residents of Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) were surprised by unanticipated rain early Friday morning, intensifying the prevailing cold wave. Despite the showers, air pollution levels remained alarmingly high, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the ‘very poor’ category.
Dark clouds covered the capital in the early hours before rain started around 6 a.m. in various parts of Delhi. The rainfall began as moderate to heavy and later eased. The cold northwesterly winds during the showers added to the chill. Gurugram also saw rainfall, although no specific warning had been issued.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts Delhi’s minimum temperature around 5 degrees Celsius on Friday, with the maximum expected between 16 and 17 degrees Celsius. Safdarjung weather station recorded a minimum of 5.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, nearly one degree below the seasonal average, marking the coldest day of the winter. Lodhi Road reported a similar low of 6.1 degrees Celsius.
Despite the rain’s potential to improve air quality, pollution levels saw little change. The AQI stood at about 321 at 8 a.m., firmly in the ‘very poor’ range. Monitoring stations across Delhi continued to report concerning readings.
