Key Highlights

  • Late-Night Rain: Rainfall with thunderstorms and strong winds hit Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad late on Saturday night.
  • Cooler Start: Safdarjung recorded 18°C early on Sunday, with 98 per cent humidity and misty conditions around 5:30 a.m.
  • AQI in Moderate Zone: Delhi’s AQI stood at 181 around 5 a.m., improving from 191 on Saturday morning and 230 on Friday.
  • Pockets of Poor Air Remain: Several monitoring stations across the capital were still reporting readings in the poor category.
  • IMD Outlook: Maximum temperature is expected between 31°C and 33°C and minimum between 16°C and 18°C, with mainly clear skies and stronger afternoon winds.

Delhi-NCR woke up to noticeably cooler weather on Sunday, October 25, after rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds swept across the region late on Saturday night. Showers were reported in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad, ending a stretch of relatively warm days.

The overnight spell brought temperatures down and cool winds across the region, offering residents relief and raising hopes of cleaner air after a week in which Delhi’s air quality had slipped into the poor category.

Sunday Morning in Numbers

The Safdarjung weather station recorded a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius early on Sunday. According to the weather dashboard, humidity stood at 98 per cent, wind speed was recorded at 0 kmph, and misty conditions prevailed at around 5:30 a.m.

The still, saturated air in the early hours is typical after a night of rain, and explains the misty start many commuters experienced.

What the IMD Forecast Says

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a maximum temperature between 31 and 33 degrees Celsius, and a minimum between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius. Mainly clear skies are expected during the day, though surface winds are likely to pick up in the afternoon.

Stronger afternoon winds could help disperse pollutants further, though the warm daytime maximum shows that the rain has cooled nights more than days.

Why It Matters: A Three-Day Improvement in Air Quality

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 181 at around 5 a.m. on Sunday, placing it in the moderate category. This followed an AQI of 191 on Saturday morning and 230 on Friday, showing a steady improvement over three days.

The timing is significant. Late October is usually when Delhi’s air quality begins its seasonal decline, driven by falling temperatures, slower winds and regional factors. A rain-assisted dip into the moderate range offers a short but valuable window of relief for residents, especially children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions.

The Catch: Uneven Air Across the City

The improvement is not uniform. Several monitoring stations across the national capital were still reporting readings in the poor category, according to the data on the dashboard. This means residents in some localities may not feel the full benefit of the citywide figure, and those sensitive to pollution should continue to check local readings before stepping out.

Audience Sentiment

For many in the region, the overnight showers came as a pleasant surprise after days of warmer-than-expected weather. The combination of cooler mornings and a better AQI reading has lifted the mood, though there is caution that the relief may be temporary.

What Comes Next

With clear skies forecast and the rain spell over, the coming days will show whether the improvement holds. Afternoon winds may help keep pollution in check, but as the season moves deeper into winter, Delhi-NCR’s air quality will remain under close watch.

(With inputs from IANS)