Delhi-NCR Weather Turns Pleasant as Rain Lifts Air Quality

New Delhi: A sudden change in weather has swept across Delhi and the National Capital Region, with residents experiencing a mild chill this Monday. Early Sunday rain has also contributed to a positive shift in pollution levels.

The city's minimum temperature touched 16 degrees Celsius on Monday morning, creating a pleasant atmosphere.

India Meteorological Department data indicates that Delhi's maximum temperature on October 26 was 32 degrees Celsius, with the minimum at 16 degrees. The sky is mainly clear for the day.

The forecast for October 27 suggests temperatures between 31 and 16 degrees with clear skies. On October 28, partial cloud cover is expected.

October 29 and 30 may bring a change, with thunderstorms and rain likely. Maximum temperatures during this phase could reach 31 to 32 degrees, while minimums may fall between 17 and 19 degrees. The sky will be partly cloudy again on October 31, with temperatures expected between 31 and 18 degrees.

The combination of Sunday's rain and strong winds has markedly improved air quality in Delhi-NCR. The region's AQI is currently below the 'red zone', which marks dangerous levels. However, many areas still show air quality in the 'poor' to 'very poor' bracket.

Several key Delhi locations reported varied readings. Patparganj recorded an AQI of 202, Punjabi Bagh 229, Pusa 191, RK Puram 233, Rohini 200, Shadipur 151 and Sonia Vihar 202.

Other NCR towns have also seen slight improvements. Noida Sector-125 measured 122, Sector-62 measured 253, Sector-1 measured 142 and Sector-116 measured 117.

Ghaziabad's Govindpuram enjoys the cleanest air in the region at an AQI of 59, which falls in the 'satisfactory' range. Indirapuram recorded 154, Loni and Sanjay Nagar 130, Vasundhara 181, Ved Vihar-Loni 201 and Wave City 107.

The Meteorological Department expects the maximum temperature to stay around 31 degrees in the coming days, with minimums between 17 and 18 degrees Celsius. Mild cold in the early morning and evening hours is offering comfort to residents.

Experts believe that if rain returns on October 29 and 30, pollution could decline even further, potentially delivering cleaner air to Delhi-NCR residents in time for Diwali.