Light rainfall in Delhi as IMD issues ‘yellow alert’, AQI remains ‘poor’

Weather forecasts show the maximum is expected to dip and hover around 26°C on Wednesday, before gradually rising again and touching 30°C by Sunday

Published on: Feb 18, 2026, 10:16:17 IST

By Jasjeev Gandhiok

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Parts of Delhi recorded light rainfall on Wednesday morning leading to a minor drop in temperature with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert. The air quality index in the national Capital remained in the ‘poor category’. Delhi’s average AQI was 225 (poor) at 9am on Wednesday. It was 249 (poor) on Tuesday at 4pm.

Delhi’s average AQI was 225 (poor) at 9am on Wednesday. It was 249 (poor) on Tuesday at 4pm. (HT photo)

The IMD has forecast patchy light rain with gusty winds possibly touching 4 km/hr as a western disturbance (WD) impacts the region.

The light rainfall is likely to lead to a dip in maximum temperature, which has remained over 30°C for the past two days. Delhi’s maximum was 30.9°C on Tuesday -- seven degrees above what is normal for this time of the year. It was 31.6°C on Monday, the earliest when the temperature crossed 30°C in February in the past five years. The last time it happened before February 16 was in 2021, when it touched 30.4°C on February 11.

Also Read: Delhi AQI at 211 as air quality slips to poor; 6-day spell ahead

Weather forecasts show the maximum is expected to dip and hover around 26°C on Wednesday, before gradually rising again and touching 30°C by Sunday.

“Some scattered very light rain has been recorded in the city, with chances of another spell. It is likely to stay overcast, leading to a dip in maximum, but only for Wednesday,” said an IMD official.

IMD data showed Safdarjung logged 0.2mm of rainfall till 8:30am, Lodhi road 0.2mm, Palam 0.9mm and Ayanagar 0.5mm.

With overcast skies, Delhi’s minimum temperature also rose on Wednesday and was recorded at 15.8°C -- five degrees above normal.

The minimum was recorded at 12.4°C on Tuesday and 10.1°C a day earlier.

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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