A sudden shift in weather patterns has enveloped the National Capital Region in a blanket of clouds and chill since late Thursday. Friday dawned with intermittent showers and brisk winds battering Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and nearby suburbs, signaling the return of winter’s bite. The IMD warns of dense cloud cover persisting all day, slashing sunlight and driving down mercury levels.
Expect a tangible drop in daytime highs, with maximum temperatures hovering near 19°C and minimums at 12°C on January 23. Scattered spells of moderate rain, gusty winds up to 40 km/h, thunder, and lightning are on the cards. The trend continues into Saturday (January 24) with even colder readings: 17°C max and 7°C min.
Sunday (January 25) may bring light to moderate fog in the morning, alongside 17-6°C temperatures. On January 26, conditions stabilize at 19-7°C without major warnings. This windy, rainy interlude has delivered a much-needed boost to air quality indices. CPCB and UPPCB monitors indicate improvements in multiple hotspots.
Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram AQI eased to 267, Sanjay Nagar to 290, though Loni clings to severe 390. In Noida, Sector-62 improved to 249, while Sector-125 (319), Sector-1 (290), and Sector-116 (296) show mixed results. Delhi’s Anand Vihar (317), Ashok Vihar (335), Bawana (342), Chandni Chowk (326), Ali Pur (322), and DTU area (312) remain worrisome, but transitions to orange zones provide optimism.
Experts attribute the heightened chill to rapid cooling from precipitation and winds, urging precautions like warm clothing and reduced outdoor activities amid this refreshing yet frosty change.
