Light rain at dawn caught Delhi-NCR off guard, worsening the cold wave and keeping air quality in the very poor category across the capital, know the Delhi Weather Update
New Delhi: Light to moderate rain caught Delhi-NCR residents off guard early Friday morning, intensifying the ongoing cold wave and worsening winter conditions across the region. Rainfall began around 6–7 am and affected several areas, including Dwarka, Palam, IGI Airport, ITO, India Gate, and Safdarjung. Showers also spread to Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported intermittent rain and drizzle at isolated places, accompanied by cold northwesterly winds. The department had already issued a yellow alert for dense fog on January 9, warning commuters of reduced visibility during early morning hours.
Rain and fog deepen cold conditions
The rainfall further lowered the chill factor across the capital. Minimum temperatures dropped to 5–7 degrees Celsius at most weather stations, while some locations recorded even lower readings earlier this week. IMD expects maximum temperatures to remain between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius, staying below normal levels for this time of year.
Dense to moderate fog reduced visibility in several areas, slowing traffic movement and affecting flight operations at IGI Airport during the morning hours.
Delhi AQI remains in very poor category
Rain failed to bring meaningful relief from pollution. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 325 around 8 am, placing it firmly in the very poor category.
Several monitoring stations across Delhi-NCR recorded AQI levels above 300, increasing the risk of respiratory discomfort for the general population and posing serious health concerns for children, senior citizens, and people with respiratory ailments.
Delhi Weather forecast for the coming days
IMD expects rainfall activity to taper off later today but warns that cold wave conditions will continue.
January 9: Isolated light rain, dense fog during morning hours
January 10–14: Clear to partly cloudy skies, shallow to moderate fog, no significant rainfall
Minimum temperatures likely to remain between 5 and 8 degrees Celsius
The weather department has advised commuters to drive cautiously in foggy conditions and urged residents to limit outdoor exposure due to persistently poor air quality.
Cold wave and pollution disrupt daily life
Rain, fog, biting cold, and hazardous air quality combined to disrupt normal life across Delhi-NCR on Friday. With no immediate improvement in temperatures or pollution levels, authorities continue to urge residents to stay warm, follow travel advisories, and remain alert to health warnings.
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Prateeksha Kumari is a journalist and strategic communications professional specialising in digital journalism, political reporting, and public affairs. Her work focuses on grassroots issues, governance, and civic developments, with an emphasis on clarity, accuracy, and narrative-driven reporting.
She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla and has qualified the UGC-NET examination, reflecting her academic grounding in media studies and communication research. Her reporting spans politics, public policy, health, education, and socio-economic issues, and she is experienced in bilingual (Hindi and English) content creation tailored to diverse audiences.
Alongside her journalistic work, she brings experience in political communication and public relations, where she has contributed to campaign messaging, media outreach, and narrative building. She has worked on integrated communication strategies across print and digital platforms, combining editorial judgment with audience insight and data-led content approaches.
