Delhi Wakes to Drizzle, 20°C; Thunderstorms & Poor AQI Forecast

Delhi residents experienced cloudy skies and scattered light showers on Monday morning, with temperatures around 20°C. The India Meteorological Department has issued a forecast for thunderstorms and lightning across the National Capital Region during the forenoon to afternoon hours. Concurrently, the city's air quality remains poor, with hotspots like Anand Vihar recording hazardous AQI levels. The IMD predicts a shift to partly cloudy and dry conditions for the remainder of the week.

Key Points: Delhi Weather: Thunderstorm Warning, Temp Dips to 20°C, AQI Poor

  • Morning drizzle & 20°C in Delhi
  • Thunderstorm warning for NCR
  • AQI in poor to hazardous range
  • Dry weather forecast from March 24
2 min read

Morning drizzle, temperature dips; Delhi records 20°C amid thunderstorm warning

Delhi-NCR sees morning drizzle at 20°C with thunderstorm warning. AQI remains poor; Anand Vihar records hazardous levels. IMD forecasts dry week ahead.

"generally cloudy sky with the possibility of very light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning - IMD"

New Delhi, March 23

Residents in the national capital woke up to cloudy skies and scattered light showers on Monday morning, as the India Meteorological Department predicted more rain and thunderstorms later in the day.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), as of 7:48 AM on March 23, the national capital is experiencing an interactive display of weather and Thunderstorm warnings, light rain with a current temperature of 20°C (feels like 24°C). The humidity is recorded at 65% with a gentle 2 mph wind from the west.

The city recorded a minimum temperature of 19°C. The maximum temperature is expected to hover between 29°C.

According to the IMD forecast for March 23, the entire NCR - including Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Noida - is expected to remain under a "generally cloudy sky" with the possibility of very light rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning during the forenoon to afternoon hours.

Across the Delhi-NCR region, current weather monitoring stations are reporting varied atmospheric conditions this Monday morning. In Faridabad, the temperature stands at 21.1°C with active light rain and a high humidity level of 73%. Meanwhile, within the capital's major points, the mercury reached 26.0°C at New Delhi (Safdarjung) and 25.2°C at Palam, while Narela recorded a significantly higher temperature of 31.0°C.

According to the AQI in the dashboard, the real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) for New Delhi was recorded at 213 at 7:58 AM and continues to hover in the poor and 'Unhealthy' bracket, with a city-wide average of 163 (US AQI) recorded as of 7:48 AM.

While the light showers may help in scavenging some particulate matter, prominent hotspots like Anand Vihar continue to report 'Hazardous' levels at 436, while other areas like Baba Kharak Singh Marg and Pusa remain in the 182 to 164 range, respectively.

According to CPCB, the AQI, which ranges from 0 to 500, is divided into six categories, each reflecting the level of pollution and associated health risks. An AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as "Good", indicating minimal or no health impact. AQI levels from 51 to 100 fall into the "Satisfactory" category, where air quality remains acceptable, though sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues may experience slight discomfort.

Looking ahead, the IMD has indicated that the sky will become partly cloudy from March 24, with dry weather conditions expected to prevail for the remainder of the week.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Anand Vihar at 436 AQI is a disaster zone. I commute from there daily and my eyes burn. The rain is nice but it's just a temporary band-aid. Authorities need permanent solutions, not just weather reports. 🌧️
A
Aman W
Loved the cool breeze in Gurugram today. Perfect weather for a cup of chai. Hope the thunderstorms predicted don't cause waterlogging like last time though. Our infrastructure can't handle heavy rain.
S
Sarah B
The temperature variation across NCR is fascinating - 31°C in Narela and 20°C in central Delhi! Shows how urban heat islands work. The IMD data is quite detailed, appreciate the reporting.
V
Vikram M
Good that the rain is washing away some pollution, but the core issue remains. Construction dust, vehicle emissions... we see it every day. When will we get serious about clean air? My child has developed asthma living here.
K
Kriti O
The weather is lovely, but the AQI news ruins the mood. Baba Kharak Singh Marg at 182 is still bad. We deserve to breathe clean air. Hope the forecast for dry weather next week doesn't mean the pollution spikes back up.

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