Delhi-NCR to Stay Dry, Air Quality Satisfactory

Signs of the Monsoon's Retreat

The forecast comes at a time when the Southwest Monsoon is showing signs of retreat from northwest India. According to the IMD, atmospheric conditions are becoming favourable for the withdrawal of the monsoon from some parts of West Rajasthan on Saturday. However, Delhi is expected to continue witnessing largely dry conditions in the immediate forecast period, suggesting that the withdrawal process, while beginning in parts of the northwest, has not yet significantly altered conditions in the capital itself.

What to Expect in New Delhi

For New Delhi specifically, the IMD has predicted partly cloudy skies and has issued no weather warning. The wider Delhi region is also expected to remain free of significant rainfall, with temperatures staying within the forecast range throughout the day.

Isolated Rain Possible in Gurugram

Some parts of the NCR could, however, see isolated changes in weather. Gurugram is likely to remain partly cloudy, with the possibility of one or two spells of rain or thundershowers during the day. No warning has been issued for the city, indicating that any rainfall expected there is likely to be light and localised rather than disruptive.

Rainfall Across Maharashtra

Meanwhile, several districts of Maharashtra, including Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Dhule, Jalgaon and Nandurbar, are expected to receive rainfall on Saturday. Rain is also likely in areas including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded, Latur, Parbhani, Beed, Hingoli, Jalna and Osmanabad, reflecting continued active monsoon conditions across a wide stretch of the state even as parts of the northwest begin seeing the monsoon's withdrawal.

Scattered Showers in the North

The IMD has forecast scattered monsoon showers and thunderstorms over Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab and West Rajasthan on Saturday. East Uttar Pradesh may also experience similar conditions on both Saturday and Sunday, indicating that while Delhi itself is expected to stay dry, several neighbouring states and regions are likely to see continued monsoon activity over the same period.

Himachal Pradesh's Extended Forecast

Himachal Pradesh is likely to receive isolated rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms through September 24, suggesting a more sustained period of unsettled weather in the hill state compared to the drier conditions expected in Delhi over the same timeframe.

Central India Remains Weather-Active

Central India is also expected to remain active weather-wise. West Madhya Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh may witness fairly widespread to widespread rainfall along with thunderstorms on Saturday. Chhattisgarh could also receive fairly widespread rainfall, with thunderstorms and lightning expected in several areas, underscoring that the monsoon's retreat, while beginning in the northwest, has clearly not yet affected central India's weather patterns.

Southern and Coastal Rainfall Patterns

In southern and coastal regions, Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep are likely to experience fairly widespread rainfall through September 24. Parts of Karnataka may also see similar conditions during the same period, with North Interior Karnataka, South Interior Karnataka and Telangana likely to receive rainfall specifically on Saturday. Coastal Andhra Pradesh may witness isolated to scattered rainfall between Saturday and Sunday, rounding out a forecast that shows the monsoon's continued, if uneven, presence across large parts of southern and central India even as its withdrawal begins further north.

Delhi's Air Quality Remains Satisfactory

Meanwhile, the air quality of Delhi remained in the satisfactory category, offering some relief for residents ahead of the seasonal transition when air quality in the capital typically tends to deteriorate.

Station-Wise Air Quality Readings

Air quality index readings across various monitoring stations in the city included CRRI Mathura Road (131), Burari Crossing (99), North Campus DU (125), IGI Airport T3 (102), Pusa (89), Aya Nagar (75), Shadipur (79), ITO (88), DTU (94), R K Puram (128), Ashok Vihar (91), Dwarka-Sector 8 (116), Narela (120), Rohini (107), Chandni Chowk (98), and IIT Delhi (131), with readings across these stations broadly remaining within the satisfactory range, though showing some variation depending on location across the city.