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Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
16-day streak of satisfactory air quality ends in Delhi
For the first time in 16 days, Delhi's air quality dropped into the 'moderate' category on Saturday, despite light rain and cloudy weather on the day and over the past few days in the National Capital Region (NCR). The temperature also slightly rose on Saturday. Rain near Janpath in New Delhi on Saturday. (Arvind Yadav/HT photo) Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) on Saturday was 105 (moderate) at 4pm, a deterioration from 79 (satisfactory) on Friday and 59 on Thursday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's daily national bulletin. The last time Delhi's AQI was in the moderate category was June 25 — from June 26 to July 11, AQI was in the 'satisfactory' category. Forecasts by Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi predict that AQI will return to the satisfactory category by Sunday and remain so till at least Tuesday. Safdarjung, Delhi's base weather station, recorded 1mm of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to 8.30am on Saturday and 15.6mm from 8.30am to 8.30 pm. Palam recorded 8.2mm in 24 hours till 8.30am and 0.6mm throughout the rest of the day. Lodhi Road recorded 0.4mm of rain till 8.30am and 12mm later in the day, and Pusa recorded 13mm in the first half and 1mm of rain later in the day. The maximum temperature was recorded at 34.8°C, 0.7°C below the normal and higher than Friday's 33.2 °C. The minimum was clocked at 26.4°C, higher than Friday's 25.6°C. The India Meteorological department (IMD) has forecast that light rain will continue in the city over the next few days. 'Generally cloudy skies will persist throughout the next week. Very light to light rain along with thunderstorm and lighting is also expected to continue till next at least next Thursday,' said an IMD official. According to IMD, up to 15.5 mm of rainfall is considered light rainfall, 15.6mm to 64.4 mm is considered moderate rainfall, 64.5 mm to 115.5mm is considered heavy rainfall and 115.6mm to 204.4mm is very heavy rainfall.
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Delhi sees 10th consecutive day of satisfactory air quality
Since June 18, Delhi has experienced 'satisfactory' air quality—apart from June 23 and June 25, when it dipped to 'moderate'—reflecting the annual monsoon trend, as seasonal rains help disperse pollutants from the air. The average Air Quality Index (AQI) on Saturday was 89, up from 78 on Friday, marking the tenth consecutive day of 'satisfactory' air quality in the Capital, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's daily national bulletin. Clouds above Jantar Mantar on Saturday. (RAJ K RAJ /HT PHOTO) According to historical patterns, July typically records a mix of 'satisfactory' and 'moderate' air quality days. In 2024, 17 days in July registered 'satisfactory' air, while the remaining days saw 'moderate' levels. According to forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi, the AQI is expected to remain in the 'satisfactory' category for at least the next couple of days. On Saturday, a few parts of Delhi received light rain, despite forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting light to moderate showers. However, a yellow alert has been issued for Sunday, warning of possible moderate rainfall. According to data shared by IMD, Delhi's base weather station at Safdarjung recorded 1.8mm of rain between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. Palam logged 2.6mm during the same period and 5.2mm over 24 hours between 8.30am on Friday and 8.30am on Saturday. Lodhi Road recorded only a trace amount throughout the day, while Pragati Maidan received 0.1mm between 8.30am and 11.30am. IMD classifies rainfall as light (up to 15.5mm), moderate (15.6mm to 64.4mm), heavy (64.5mm to 115.5mm), and very heavy (115.6mm to 204.4mm). 'A yellow alert has been issued for Sunday. Generally cloudy skies are expected to persist, along with light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning,' said an IMD official. While no alerts have been issued for the days following Sunday, forecasts suggest that light rain may continue through the next week. Delhi's maximum temperature was recorded at 37.1 degrees Celsius (°C) on Saturday, 0.5°C above normal and slightly higher than Friday's 36.2°C. The minimum was 27.9°C, which is around normal for this time of year, compared to 28.4°C recorded the previous day. According to IMD, the maximum temperature is expected to drop further to around 33–35°C by Sunday and 32–34°C by Monday, while the minimum may range between 24–26°C by Monday.
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Monsoon may reach Delhi by June 24, three days ahead of normal date: IMD
The southwest monsoon is expected to reach Delhi by June 24, advancing three days before the normal date (June 27), as the conditions are becoming favourable for the same, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. 'Southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of Bihar and east Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, some parts of west Uttar Pradesh, most parts of Uttarakhand, many parts of Himachal Pradesh and some parts of Ladakh,' IMD posted on their social media handle on X (formerly Twitter), on Friday. IMD said that the conditions are favourable for further advancement of southwest monsoon over remaining parts of North Arabian Sea, Rajasthan, West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, and parts of Ladakh during the next two days. Also Read: AAP slams Delhi CM Rekha Gupta for 'false promises' over waterlogging in capital 'Conditions are also becoming favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon over remaining parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh; Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi during subsequent two days,' the Met department added. Last year, the onset of monsoon in Delhi was recorded on June 28 and June 25 in 2023. Meanwhile, a yellow alert remained in place for the day and the weekend, with IMD forecasting rain and thunderstorms. 'Generally cloudy skies will persist throughout the day and for the next few days. Very light to light rain may be recorded towards the evening or night on Friday, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of speed 30-40 kmph, even reaching 50 kmph during the thunderstorm,' said an IMD official. 'Satisfactory' AQI Delhi's air quality index (AQI) remained in the satisfactory category for a third consecutive day on Friday and was recorded at 76 (satisfactory) at 3pm, in comparison to the 24-hour average AQI of 89 recorded on Thursday. Delhi had also recorded its 24-hour average of cleanest air in eight months on Wednesday, with AQI being 81 (satisfactory). This was the lowest since September 29 when AQI had stood at 76. With the onset of monsoon on the horizon, Delhi's AQI is expected to remain in the satisfactory category for the next few days, according to forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS).
Hindustan Times
15-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Delhi sees muggy day with no rain in sight
The Capital continued to witness sweltering heat and humidity on Saturday, with a slight fall in the minimum temperature. Forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) mentioned thunderstorms and gusty winds might be observed on Sunday, however, the temperatures are expected to remain in the same range. The heat index of the day (also called the real-feel temperature) was at 54.3°C at 11.30am on Saturday and improved to 51.8°C by 5.30pm, according to data by IMD. It was 51.5°C on Friday and 53-54°C on Thursday. Real feel temperature of the heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. Safdarjung, Delhi's base station, recorded a maximum temperature of 41.8 degrees Celsius (°C), 1.9°C above the normal and up from 41.2°C a day before. Other weather stations also recorded a spike in the maximum — Ridge recorded a rise of 2.6°C, Ayanagar logged 1.6°C higher than the previous day, Lodhi Road and Palam recorded an increase of 1.9°C and 1.4°C, respectively. The minimum temperature, meanwhile, was recorded at 29.6°C, 1.6°C above normal and down from 31°C on Friday. Although IMD had issued a yellow alert for Saturday, warning people of both hot and humid conditions as well as very light to light rain, along with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of speed 40-50kmph, no rain was recorded during the day. 'Thunderstorms and gusty winds might be observed on Sunday as well. Similar weather conditions are expected to continue throughout the next week, at least till Friday,' an IMD official said. According to a forecast by IMD, the maximum temperature is expected to be around 39-41°C on Sunday and 36-38°C by Monday. The minimum temperature is expected to hover around 27-29°C on Sunday and 26-28°C on Monday. No alerts have been issued for the following days. The city's air quality improved on Saturday but remained in the 'moderate' category. The 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) on Saturday was recorded at 156 (moderate) at 4pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's daily national bulletin. The AQI was recorded at 187 (moderate) on Friday and 195 (moderate) on Thursday. According to forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi, the AQI is expected to be in the 'moderate' category for the next few days. 'The air quality is likely to be in the moderate category from Sunday to Tuesday. The outlook for the subsequent six days is that the air quality is likely to be in the moderate category,' the AQEWS bulletin said on Saturday evening.
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Delhi offers no respite after sunset, national capital's 3rd hot night in a row
It's not just the blazing sun but the stifling nights that are wearing people down in the Capital. On Friday, the minimum temperature rose to 31°C—marking the third consecutive night of oppressive heat and offering little relief after the scorching days. While the daytime temperature dipped slightly on Thursday, any respite was short-lived, as the nights have only grown warmer through the week, intensifying cumulative heat stress and leaving residents with no chance to cool off. Also Read: IMD warns of heat wave till June 14 for northwest The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said sustained high night-time temperatures can worsen health outcomes, particularly among the elderly, children, and people with chronic illnesses. 'Humidity levels remain high, and night-time warmth is adding to the overall stress,' an IMD official said. Daytime heat, though marginally lower on Friday, was still intense. The maximum temperature at Safdarjung, the city's base station, dropped to 41.2°C on Friday—1.3°C above normal and down from 43.9°C on Thursday. The city's heat index or 'real feel' also saw a modest decline, touching 51.5°C at 2.30pm compared to over 53°C the day before. Also Read: Heatwave health hacks from doctors: Essential tips to protect your body in extreme summer heat Several other weather stations also recorded a noticeable dip in maximum temperatures: Ridge saw a 4.9°C drop, Ayanagar 3.6°C, Lodhi Road 3.7°C, and Palam 3.3°C. Still, the IMD issued an orange alert for Friday, upgrading its earlier yellow alert, and warned of hot and humid conditions through the day, followed by potential thunderstorm activity at night. The alert forecast very light to light rain, accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph, and occasionally touching 60 kmph. Also Read: Delhi heat wave: IMD's orange alert on as city's temperature 'feels like' almost 50 deg C IMD scientist Krishna Mishra said the weather shift was triggered by the weakening of a mid-level ridge and a low-level anti-cyclone, which have now been replaced by a trough in easterlies. 'This, combined with a western disturbance, is behind the slight dip in day temperatures and the expected weather activity over the weekend,' he said. The department expects light rain with thunderstorms and gusty winds to continue over the weekend and into the first half of next week. Maximum temperatures are likely to hover between 39-41°C on Saturday and may dip further. The minimum is expected to range from 28-30°C and gradually decline in the coming days. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality remained in the 'moderate' category, with the 24-hour average AQI recorded at 187 on Friday, slightly lower than Thursday's 195. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS), this trend is likely to continue through the weekend and into early next week. 'The air quality is likely to be in the moderate category from Saturday to Monday. The outlook for the subsequent six days is that the air quality is likely to be in the moderate category,' the AQEWS bulletin said on Friday evening.
