Delhi-NCR wakes up to rain amid IMD's yellow alert, what's behind the wet weather?

Delhi weather: The maximum temperature is expected to stay near 18 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to hover around 11 degrees Celsius.

Updated on: Feb 1, 2026, 08:39:14 IST

By Shivya Kanojia

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Residents of Delhi -NCR woke up to wet weather on Sunday as rain lashed parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a “yellow alert” for the national capital, warning of thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds and dense fog.

The IMD said the rainfall has been caused by another western disturbance affecting north-west India. (Sakib Ali/HT)

According to the weather office, the maximum temperature is expected to stay near 18 degrees Celsius, while the minimum is likely to hover around 11 degrees Celsius.

As of 6 am, the AQI in Delhi stood at 324 in the “very poor” category on February 1.

Western disturbance behind showers

The IMD said the rainfall has been caused by another western disturbance affecting north-west India. Delhi has already experienced several such systems this month, earlier HT reported.

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At the Safdarjung weather station, January rainfall has reached 25.4 mm so far. This is around 38 per cent higher than the long-period average of 18.4 mm for the month.

Night temperatures see sharp swings

The city recorded a minimum temperature of 6.7 degrees Celsius on Saturday. This was one degree below the seasonal average and lower than Friday’s minimum of 7.7 degrees Celsius.

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However, IMD expects night temperatures to rise on Sunday due to continuous cloud cover, which is likely to trap heat overnight.

“The minimum temperature is expected to be around 10-12°C on Sunday and 11-13°C on Monday. It is likely to fall again to around 7-9°C by Thursday,” the IMD official cited above said.

January has seen frequent fluctuations in night temperatures. The city also experienced cold wave conditions for four days earlier this month.

Delhi weather forecast

February 1: Rain and thunderstorms

On February 1, the city is likely to experience thunderstorms accompanied by light rainfall. Shallow to moderate fog is expected during the morning hours. Very light to light rain may continue through the forenoon, afternoon, evening and night.

Thunderstorms may be accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour. The maximum temperature is expected to be around 18 degrees Celsius, while the minimum may settle near 11 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels are likely to remain high.

February 2–3: Foggy mornings

From February 2, weather conditions are expected to stabilise. Moderate fog is likely during the morning hours on both February 2 and February 3. No weather warning has been issued for these days.

The maximum temperature is expected to remain around 18 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature may range between 11 and 12 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels are expected to gradually decline.

February 4–6: Cooler nights, persistent fog

Between February 4 and February 6, moderate fog is likely to persist during morning hours. Day temperatures are expected to remain steady at around 18 to 19 degrees Celsius.

Night temperatures may fall further, dropping to between 8 and 9 degrees Celsius by February 6. No warnings have been issued for this period.

(With inputs from HT correspondent)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shivya Kanojia
Shivya Kanojia is a journalist at Hindustan Times, where she works in the fast-paced digital news ecosystem with a strong sense of editorial judgement and a clear understanding of what makes a story both important and traffic-driven. An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Shivya brings a thoughtful balance of news value and audience relevance to her work, ensuring stories resonate beyond the immediate headline. Over the course of her three-year journey in the digital news space, Shivya has worked across a wide range of beats, including politics, civic issues, human-interest features and trending news. This diverse exposure has shaped her ability to approach stories with nuance, adaptability and context, whether she is breaking down complex developments or spotlighting everyday narratives that often go unnoticed. She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories, interviews and explainers that offer depth and clarity, aiming to move past surface-level reporting to explore the people, emotions and circumstances behind the news. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Shivya worked with Firstpost and Times Now, where she covered a broad spectrum of topics and honed her skills in digital journalism . Outside the newsroom, Shivya enjoys discovering new cafés, drawn to good coffee, cosy spaces and unhurried conversations. Shopping is another pastime she cherishes, not always out of necessity, but often guided by instinct and the simple joy of stumbling upon unexpected finds. Above all, she treasures time spent with loved ones, finding meaning in shared laughter, simple moments and memories that linger long after.Read More

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