New Delhi, Jan 23 (.) Residents across Delhi woke up to a rainy Friday, with showers intensifying the chill as day temperatures plunged sharply across the city.
A light drizzle began in the early hours around 5.30 am, continuing intermittently till late afternoon before returning again in the evening. The persistent rain kept temperatures low and helped settle dust pollutants, leading to a marginal improvement in air quality.
At Safdarjung, Delhi’s base weather station, the maximum temperature fell to 16°C, marking a drop of nearly 11 degrees within 24 hours. This was 4.3 degrees below normal, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
In contrast, the minimum temperature rose by 7.4 degrees over the past 24 hours to 13.7°C, remaining less than two degrees below the day’s maximum.
Adding to the discomfort, frosty southeasterly winds swept across the national capital, gusting at speeds of up to 18 kmph and peaking at 37 kmph.
IMD data showed that 13.2 mm of rainfall, classified as light rainfall, was recorded at Safdarjung between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm on Friday.
The Met department has forecast continued showers in parts of Delhi till 8.30 pm, including Civil Lines, Seemapuri, Shahdara, Vivek Vihar, Preet Vihar, Akshardham, Nehru Stadium, Malviya Nagar, Tughlakabad, IGNOU, and Deramandi.
“Light to moderate rainfall is likely over parts of Delhi, accompanied by light thunderstorms and lightning,” IMD officials said, adding that wind speeds may turn inclement, reaching 30–40 kmph across the city.
The rain spell and strong winds also led to a modest improvement in air quality. The city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped from 322 on Thursday to 282 on Friday, shifting from the ‘very poor’ to the ‘poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). However, air quality continues to pose health risks for both vulnerable groups and healthy individuals during prolonged exposure.
. MBJ .