Light Rain Greets Delhi After Season’s Warmest Day, While Air Quality Remains ‘Poor’

Delhi begins the day with light rain, but pollution remains a concern

Residents of Delhi woke up to light rain on Wednesday, a shift in conditions that arrived immediately after the national capital recorded its hottest day of the year so far. On Tuesday, the maximum temperature climbed to 30.9 degrees Celsius, marking an unusually warm spell for mid-February. While the morning rain offered a brief change in the city’s weather, air quality remained a major issue, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) staying in the ‘poor’ category.

At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, the AQI was recorded at 228, placing overall air quality in the ‘poor’ bracket. A day earlier, Delhi’s AQI stood higher at 259, also in the ‘poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The figures underline that even as weather conditions fluctuate, pollution levels across the city continue to be elevated in multiple areas.

AQI readings show wide variation across neighbourhoods

CPCB readings from Wednesday morning showed that air quality was not uniform across Delhi. Several monitoring points reported AQI levels that remained firmly in the ‘poor’ range, and some locations recorded considerably higher values than the citywide reading. These variations are important because they indicate how residents’ exposure can differ significantly depending on where they live, work, or commute.

Among the locations listed in CPCB data, Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 285, while Chandni Chowk registered 286. Ashok Vihar stood at 264 and Burari Crossing at 275. DTU recorded 249, and Narela was at 283. In other parts of the city, Okhla Phase-2 was measured at 242, R.K. Puram at 221, and Vivek Vihar at 284.

Some areas recorded AQI values that were notably higher, pointing to pockets where pollution remained especially intense. Mundka was recorded at 309, Rohini at 306, Shadipur at 296, Sonia Vihar at 294, and Wazirpur at 336. These numbers indicate that despite the presence of rain in the morning, air quality concerns persisted across many parts of Delhi.

At the same time, a few locations showed comparatively lower readings. Dwarka Sector 8 reported an AQI of 187, and ITO recorded 180. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium registered 187, while Pusa was measured at 152. IGI Airport (T3) was listed as under monitoring. The spread of readings—from the low 150s to well above 300—highlights how conditions can change sharply across the city’s different zones.

Forecast: light rain, gusty winds, and a yellow alert for Delhi

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast very light to light rainfall for Wednesday, along with gusty winds expected to reach speeds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour during the afternoon. Temperatures were expected to be lower than the previous day’s peak, with the maximum and minimum likely to hover around 27 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively.

IMD also issued a yellow alert for Delhi and predicted cloudy skies through the day. The department indicated that the city could experience a spell of very light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places during the morning hours. Another spell of very light to light rain—again with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places—was expected towards the forenoon. During this period, gusty winds reaching 30–40 kmph were also likely. A further spell of very light rain was anticipated at isolated places during the afternoon.

In practical terms, the forecast suggests that the day could be marked by intermittent weather activity rather than continuous rainfall. The mention of isolated thunderstorms and lightning also indicates that conditions may vary by location, with some areas seeing brief bursts of rain while others remain largely dry under cloudy skies.

Unusual warmth for mid-February sets the backdrop

Wednesday’s light rain followed a stretch of unusual warmth in Delhi for this time of year. According to the IMD, Monday (February 16) recorded the highest temperature of the season so far. The next day, Tuesday (February 17), the mercury rose further to 30.9 degrees Celsius.

This peak was around 6.5 degrees Celsius above the normal average for the period, making it one of the warmest February days in recent weeks. The combination of above-normal temperatures and persistent pollution has kept attention focused on how quickly conditions are changing, even within a single week.

Weather system expected to influence nearby regions

The IMD said scattered showers were expected to extend into parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan over the next few hours, suggesting that the weather system affecting Delhi could also influence neighbouring regions. This broader outlook matters for commuters and travellers across the National Capital Region (NCR) and beyond, as localised rainfall and gusty winds may affect road conditions and visibility in brief spells.

Noida and Gurugram: cloudy skies and possible rain spells

In Noida, the IMD forecast generally cloudy skies with light rain for Wednesday. Temperatures in the city were expected to remain slightly lower than Delhi’s, with the maximum and minimum likely to be around 26 degrees Celsius and 11 degrees Celsius, respectively. For the next few days, mainly clear skies were forecast for the region.

Gurugram was expected to see partly cloudy skies, with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers likely during the day. The maximum and minimum temperatures there were predicted to hover around 28 degrees Celsius and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively. As with Noida, clear skies were predicted for the coming few days in Gurugram as well.

Areas likely to see light rainfall over the next two hours

In its short-term update, the IMD said light rainfall was very likely over parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan over the next two hours. The department listed multiple locations expected to receive rain, providing a granular view of where showers could occur in the immediate window.

• Haryana (light rainfall likely): Sonipat, Kharkhoda, Charkhi Dadri, Mattanhail, Jhajjar, Farukhnagar, Kosali, Mahendargarh, Sohna, Rewari, Palwal, Narnaul, Bawal, Nuh, Aurangabad, Hodal
• Uttar Pradesh (light rainfall likely): Bagpat, Khekra, Modinagar, Pilakhua
• Rajasthan (light rainfall likely): Bhiwari, Tizara, Khairthal, Alwar, Viratnagar, Nagar, Laxmangarh, Rajgarh

Where drizzle or very light rainfall may occur

The IMD also indicated that very light rainfall or drizzle was likely in additional areas across the same three states. This list included a larger number of towns and localities, suggesting the possibility of scattered, low-intensity precipitation across a wide belt.

• Haryana (very light rainfall/drizzle likely): Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Narwana, Karnal, Fatehabad, Assandh, Safidon, Barwala, Jind, Panipat, Adampur, Gohana, Gannaur, Hansi, Tosham, Rohtak
• Uttar Pradesh (very light rainfall/drizzle likely): Shamli, Kandhla, Khatauli, Sakoti Tanda, Hastinapur, Baraut, Daurala, Meerut, Kithor, Garhmukteshwar, Hapur, Gulaoti, Siyana, Sikandrabad, Bulandshahar, Khurja, Jattari, Nandgaon, Barsana
• Rajasthan (very light rainfall/drizzle likely): Kotputli, Deeg

What the day’s combination of weather and air quality means for residents

Wednesday’s forecast points to a day of changing conditions: light rain in spells, the possibility of thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places, and gusty winds later in the day. At the same time, the AQI readings show that air quality remains ‘poor’ overall, with several locations reporting high values that indicate elevated pollution levels in many pockets of the city.

The contrast between a rain-cooled morning and persistent pollution is reflected in the data. While some parts of Delhi recorded lower AQI readings, others remained substantially higher, reinforcing that the city’s air quality situation is uneven and can shift sharply by neighbourhood. With cloudy skies and intermittent weather activity expected, residents across Delhi and the wider NCR may experience a day that feels notably different from Tuesday’s heat, even as concerns over air quality continue.

Looking ahead, the IMD’s outlook for Noida and Gurugram suggests that after Wednesday’s cloud cover and possible rain spells, mainly clear skies may return over the next few days. For Delhi, the immediate focus remains on how the day’s predicted rainfall, winds, and cloudiness unfold—against the backdrop of an unusually warm mid-February and an AQI that has stayed in the ‘poor’ category.