Rain from western disturbance improves Delhi’s air quality; temp likely to drop

Delhi AQI today: IMD said that while the western disturbance has pushed up night-time temperatures, overcast skies are likely to cause a dip in daytime temp.

Updated on: Jan 23, 2026, 11:07:34 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok

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A western disturbance brought widespread light rain to Delhi early on Friday, improving air quality and triggering a weather alert for the national capital, even as the average air quality index (AQI) stood at 293 (poor) at 8am, an improvement from 322 (very poor) recorded at 4pm on Thursday.

Early morning showers brought down the temperature in New Delhi on Friday. (Arvind Yadav/ HT Photo)

Light showers began after 5.30am, accompanied by strong winds in several parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Delhi, forecasting multiple spells of light rain through the day along with gusty winds reaching up to 40kmph.

Rainfall data showed that Safdarjung and Palam recorded 1.3mm, each, between 5.30am and 8.30am. Lodhi Road received 1.6mm, Ridge 1.8mm, Ayanagar 1.7mm, Janakpuri 1.5mm and Mayur Vihar 1mm.

“Snowfall has been recorded in the upper mountains, whereas widespread rain has been seen in the plains,” an IMD official said.

The impact of the western disturbance over northwest India in the form of rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds is likely to continue today. The IMD has issued warnings for reduced visibility on highways, and advised citizens to take necessary precautions while on the road. Visibility at Palam airport deteriorated to 1,000m from 2,500m around 6.30am, which is likely to reduce further to 800m.

Delhi’s minimum temperature was recorded at 13.7°C, six degrees above normal, compared with 6.7°C a day earlier. The IMD said that while the western disturbance has pushed up night-time temperatures, overcast skies are likely to cause a dip in daytime temperatures.

The capital also witnessed unusually warm daytime conditions on Thursday, with the maximum temperature touching 27.1°C — seven degrees above normal and the highest January maximum in seven years. The last higher January temperature was 28.7°C on January 21, 2019.

The improvement in air quality came a day after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted Stage-III measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region with immediate effect, citing improving trends and favourable forecasts.

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, which CAQM uses for projections, has forecast ‘moderate’ AQI levels for Friday and Saturday, with air quality likely to slip back to ‘poor’ on Sunday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jasjeev Gandhiok
Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.Read More

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